A very fine Mesopotamian cylinder seal carved from a brown hardstone. The sides of the seal have been engraved with a nine-pointed star motif, possibly representing the Star of Ishtar, and a plantation motif resembling the sacred 'Tree of Life'. The seal has been perforated longitudinally for suspension. Minor chips to the edges. The piece is supplied with a museum-quality impression. Seals in antiquity were 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. Measurements: H 2cm x W 0.9cm Provenance: From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.