Ancient Greek Greek Pomegranate - 6.5 cm
No. 81651587
Sasanian Haematite Stamp Seal with Zoomorphic Figure
No. 81651587
Sasanian Haematite Stamp Seal with Zoomorphic Figure
A finely rendered haematite Sassanian seal stamp featuring a domed shape and perforated horizontally for suspension. The flat face of the seal has been finely carved with the depiction of a horned animal, standing and looking ahead, most likely an ibex or an antelope. The haematite stone is skillfully worked with a smooth surface that enhances the reflective qualities of the mineral. There are some minor scratches on the surface consistent with age.
Seals were often made of stone however there are also examples rendered in bone, ivory, faience, glass, metal, wood, and even sun-dried or baked clay. In the ancient world, seals guaranteed the authenticity of marked ownership – as such, they were instrumental in legal transactions, and in the protection of goods against theft. Seal amulets with stylised animals have been found throughout Mesopotamia in contexts dating to the late fourth millennium BC, although stamp seals and cylinder seals were the predominant types in the ancient Near East.
Measurements: 1.9cm x 1.6cm x 1.4cm
Provenance: Ex SM collection, London, acquired 1970s-2010.
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