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Near Eastern Art :
Cylinder Seals : Cylinder Seal of a Black Stone
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Cylinder Seal of a Black Stone - OF.287
Origin: Central Asia
Circa: 1900
BC
to 1600
BC
Collection: Near Eastern
Style: Old Babylonian
Medium: Stone
£3,000.00
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
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Cylinder seals are characteristic artifacts of
ancient Mesopotamian civilization and are
considered some of their finest artistic
achievements. The seals first appear during the
Protoliterate Period (around 3400–2900 B.C.),
and, although the earliest examples were
engraved with primarily geometric, magical, or
animal patterns, later seals incorporated the
owner's name and depicted a variety of motifs.
Sometimes the elements were arranged in
symmetrical, decorative patterns; often, however,
an action was represented. Cylinder seals were
employed in marking personal property and in
making documents legally binding by rolling the
seal across wet clay, thereby marking the unique
“signature” engraved on the cylinder. Their
fashioning and use were adopted by surrounding
civilizations, such as those of Egypt and the
Indus valley.
The design shows two pairs of contestants: a
rearing lion-griffin about to bite the snout of a
gazelle sitting on a hillock, and a bull with
human face grappling with a rearing lion.
Between these pairs in an inverted Lahmu-
hero holding a jar at his waist.
Tgis is an Old Babylonian seal, c. 1900-1600
B.C. It is a less common type, very well
engraved and in good condition.
- (OF.287)
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