Iron Age, Ammonite Bronze Seal with bezel ring depicts a griffon, an ankh and a falcon, Ex MUSEUM
06
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22
hours
40
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19
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Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 550 - € 700
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Bronze seal ring with a bezel depicting a griffin, ankh and falcon, from Iron Age Ammonite culture, 7th Century B.C., 19 × 22 mm, in good condition, ex‑museum provenance, with Certificate of Authenticity and export licence.
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Description from the seller
ITEM: Seal with bezel ring depicts a griffon, an ankh and a falcon
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Iron Age, Ammonite
PERIOD: 7th Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 19 mm x 22 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex Museum Exhibiton of the Arbeitsgruppe für Biblische Archäologie, Germany (Deaccession)
The Ammonite seal ring from the 7th century BCE is a remarkable artifact that reflects the complex cultural synthesis of the Iron Age Levant. Crafted during a period when the Kingdom of Ammon (modern-day Jordan) was a thriving regional power, this bezel ring served as both a piece of personal jewelry and a functional administrative tool. The use of a seal was essential for high-ranking officials or merchants to "sign" documents and secure goods, acting as a physical extension of the owner's legal identity and authority within the Ammonite bureaucracy.
The iconography of the seal is a classic example of Levantine hybridity, blending local artistic traditions with powerful motifs borrowed from Egypt and Mesopotamia. The depiction of the griffin—a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle—represents a guardian of sacred spaces and a symbol of royal power. The inclusion of the falcon, a solar symbol associated with the Egyptian god Horus, alongside the ankh (the symbol of life), suggests that the Ammonite elite adopted these "prestige" symbols to convey divine protection and the eternal nature of their rule.
From a technical perspective, these seals were often carved into semi-precious stones like agate, jasper, or limestone before being set into a metal hoop, typically made of silver or bronze. The precision required to engrave three distinct symbols—the griffin, ankh, and falcon—onto such a miniature surface demonstrates the high level of skill possessed by Ammonite lapidaries. These rings are invaluable to modern historians because they often contain palaeo-Hebrew or Ammonite script naming the owner, providing a direct link to the names, titles, and religious beliefs of a civilization that flourished nearly three thousand years ago.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license
If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateITEM: Seal with bezel ring depicts a griffon, an ankh and a falcon
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Iron Age, Ammonite
PERIOD: 7th Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 19 mm x 22 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex Museum Exhibiton of the Arbeitsgruppe für Biblische Archäologie, Germany (Deaccession)
The Ammonite seal ring from the 7th century BCE is a remarkable artifact that reflects the complex cultural synthesis of the Iron Age Levant. Crafted during a period when the Kingdom of Ammon (modern-day Jordan) was a thriving regional power, this bezel ring served as both a piece of personal jewelry and a functional administrative tool. The use of a seal was essential for high-ranking officials or merchants to "sign" documents and secure goods, acting as a physical extension of the owner's legal identity and authority within the Ammonite bureaucracy.
The iconography of the seal is a classic example of Levantine hybridity, blending local artistic traditions with powerful motifs borrowed from Egypt and Mesopotamia. The depiction of the griffin—a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle—represents a guardian of sacred spaces and a symbol of royal power. The inclusion of the falcon, a solar symbol associated with the Egyptian god Horus, alongside the ankh (the symbol of life), suggests that the Ammonite elite adopted these "prestige" symbols to convey divine protection and the eternal nature of their rule.
From a technical perspective, these seals were often carved into semi-precious stones like agate, jasper, or limestone before being set into a metal hoop, typically made of silver or bronze. The precision required to engrave three distinct symbols—the griffin, ankh, and falcon—onto such a miniature surface demonstrates the high level of skill possessed by Ammonite lapidaries. These rings are invaluable to modern historians because they often contain palaeo-Hebrew or Ammonite script naming the owner, providing a direct link to the names, titles, and religious beliefs of a civilization that flourished nearly three thousand years ago.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license
If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Iron Age, Ammonite
Century/timeframe
7th Century B.C
Name of object
Seal with bezel ring depicts a griffon, an ankh and a falcon, Ex MUSEUM
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2025
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Germany
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
1990
Previous owner - country acquired from
Germany
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
