A Near Eastern biconvex amulet made from a black hardstone featuring a quadruped zoomorphic figure on both sides. Carved on one side is a standing quadruped, possibly a horse with his head lowered, the background decorated by foliage motifs in figural short lines. On the other side is a short horned animal, possibly an ibex, with similar foliage decorations in the background. Their large eyes and facial features of the animals are executed with fine lines which give them a stylised portrayal. The animals are further enriched with linear patterns on the bodies. The amulet is perforated horizontally for suspension. Seals are often made of stone however there are also examples rendered in bone, ivory, faience, glass, metal, wood, and occasionally 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 or fantasised zoomorphic figural have been found throughout Mesopotamia in contexts dating to the late forth millennium BC, although stamp seals and cylinder seals are predominant types in the ancient Near East. Measurements: L 4cm x W 3.1cm Provenance: Ex SM collection London, acquired 1970s-2000s.