Mitanni Hematite Cylinder Seal with Winged Birds
03
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06
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€ 1
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 850 - € 1,000
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Mitanni cylinder seal with winged birds in brown hematite, about 2.4 cm long, dating to c. 1500–1250 B.C.; excellent condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Standing composite figure with human legs and body, but a bird's wings and head, placed between a large recumbent horned quadruped with long neck and a smaller horned quadruped with short neck; scorpion, hand, fish and star fillers. The whole of the design in enclosed within upper and lower rules. This is a good example of the Mitanni "Elaborate Style", from anywhere between north-western Iran and the eastern Mediterranean. As is normal for such Mitanni seals, the cutting was done entirely with three semi-mechanical tools: the drill, the tubular drill and the cutting wheel.
Comes with translation and dating by Professor W.G. Lambert of the Birmingham University, England.
Size: 2.4 cm L - 15/16 inch
Material: Brown Hematite
Culture: Mitanni, c. 1500-1250 B.C.
Condition: A gash on the standing figure, otherwise intact.
Provenance: UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983.
The seller guarantees that this item has been legally acquired & will be legally exported, related documents seen by Catawiki.
This item do not need an export licence within the EU.
The seller will inform the buyer if it needs a UK export licence outside the EU
Worldwide shipping by Registered Mail.
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity
N.B. Import duties may be incurred on orders shipped to countries outside the UK.
Notice: We are not able to ship to Greece and Cyprus.
Please note our last posting date before the Christmas holidays will be 18th December. Shipping will resume 5th January 2026.
Standing composite figure with human legs and body, but a bird's wings and head, placed between a large recumbent horned quadruped with long neck and a smaller horned quadruped with short neck; scorpion, hand, fish and star fillers. The whole of the design in enclosed within upper and lower rules. This is a good example of the Mitanni "Elaborate Style", from anywhere between north-western Iran and the eastern Mediterranean. As is normal for such Mitanni seals, the cutting was done entirely with three semi-mechanical tools: the drill, the tubular drill and the cutting wheel.
Comes with translation and dating by Professor W.G. Lambert of the Birmingham University, England.
Size: 2.4 cm L - 15/16 inch
Material: Brown Hematite
Culture: Mitanni, c. 1500-1250 B.C.
Condition: A gash on the standing figure, otherwise intact.
Provenance: UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983.
The seller guarantees that this item has been legally acquired & will be legally exported, related documents seen by Catawiki.
This item do not need an export licence within the EU.
The seller will inform the buyer if it needs a UK export licence outside the EU
Worldwide shipping by Registered Mail.
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity
N.B. Import duties may be incurred on orders shipped to countries outside the UK.
Notice: We are not able to ship to Greece and Cyprus.
Please note our last posting date before the Christmas holidays will be 18th December. Shipping will resume 5th January 2026.
Details
Culture
Mitanni
Century/ Timeframe
Mitanni, c. 1500-1250 B.C.
Name of object
Cylinder Seal with Winged Birds
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2019
Material
Hematite
Country acquired from
United Kingdom
Condition
Excellent
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Previous owner - year acquired
1980
Previous owner - country acquired from
United Kingdom
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
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.
