Near Eastern Hematite Stone Seals, Abstract Quadruped

拍品描述

Near East, Mesopotamia or Levant, ca. 2000–600 BCE. This lot comprises two carved stone stamp seals. The first has a conical body that is pierced laterally near the apex for suspension, and its circular face is cut with a linear abstract quadruped whose raised head and angled projections read as a horned animal standing above a hatched groundline. The second is a rounded bead-form seal that is pierced laterally through the body, and its flat face is incised with abstract linear motifs. Both are carved from a dark grey-black hematite stone, and each has a matte surface with scattered lighter mineral inclusions. Size of cone: 0.8" H x 0.78" Diam (2.0 cm H x 2.0 cm Diam); Size of round: 0.43" H x 0.9" Diam (1.1 cm H x 2.3 cm Diam). Stamp seals preceded the cylinder seal in Mesopotamia and outlived it, returning to dominance in the first millennium BCE, when Neo-Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, and Levantine workshops produced conoid and domed forms in hematite, chalcedony, and carnelian. Mesopotamian lapidary texts as a stone of protective and medicinal virtue. SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item #204619

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