A finely engraved Sasanian stamp seal formed from carnelian. The seal is circular in shape with a domed back. The flat face of the seal has been carved with a profile, possibly female, looking right. Careful carving outlines the facial features, including a pronounced nose and chin, and a simple headdress. The seal is perforated horizontally for suspension. Stable crack across the face of the seal. Chipping to the edges. Seals were most typically 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 (circa): L 1.0cm, H 0.9cm Provenance: Ex SM collection London, acquired 1970s-2000s.