Description:

Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Early Dynastic III, ca. 2400 to 2300 BCE. A shell carved into a seal, its iconography depicts heroes battling a rampant beast and it is pierced for suspension. The surface of the shell has a beautiful marbled appearance, and in some places natural wear gives it a slight texture that is part of the design. Size: 0.5" W x 1" H (1.3 cm x 2.5 cm)

Cylinder seals played a major role in the daily life of the Mesopotamians. Known as kishib in Sumerian and kunukku in Akkadian, royals, government officials, scribes, and slaves used them to transact business and send correspondence. They were worn around the neck or wrist and served as a signature and a guarantee, rolled into the moist clay of accounting and governance documents. They also link our modern world to the past; even thousands of years ago, people were concerned with security and authenticity for the documents that they used to conduct business. Cylinder seals were a technological solution to a pressing problem, and their scenes are often complex to prevent forgery and identity individuals.

Provenance: Ex-private New York collection; Ex-Royal Athena Galleries SNF59

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#120912

  • Condition: Wear to surface; provided with a rolled clay impression.

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June 8, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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