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Near Eastern Art :
Cylinder Seals : Cylinder Seal of Carnelian
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Cylinder Seal of Carnelian - OF.285
Origin: Central Asia
Circa: 1000
BC
to 700
BC
Collection: Near Eastern
Style: Neo-Babylonian
Medium: Carnelian
£5,300.00
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 a standing god in a long
robe open at the front and exposing one leg
who is holding off on the left a scorpion man,
and on the right a composite creature: fish’s
body, front paws of a lion, wings, and a human
head. A dog on its haunches forms a terminal.
This is a Neo-Babylonian seal, c. 1000-700
B.C. It is small but finely engraved and in very
good condition save from some chipping on
the edges.
- (OF.285)
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