Sasanian Garnet Intaglio Seal with Zebu Bull

拍品描述

Near East, Persia, Sasanian Empire, ca. 224–651 CE. A miniature oval seal stone of deep wine-red garnet. Its face is gently convex and its back is hollowed into a shallow concave dish. The engraving on the curved face shows a zebu bull walking in profile. The cutter built the heavy shoulder hump, deep chest, and hanging dewlap from a few quick drill and wheel strokes, and a band across the barrel may be a girth or saddle cloth. Thinning the stone from behind lets more light pass through the dark garnet, so the cut lines glow against the wine-colored ground. Pressed into clay or wax, the seal leaves a raised bull walking the other way. It was probably made to be set in a ring and used to authenticate documents, close goods, and mark its owner's identity. Size: 0.63" H x 0.46" W x 0.17" D (1.6 cm H x 1.2 cm W x 0.4 cm D). Sasanian glyptic art, the engraving of seal stones, survives in very large numbers. It was a working tool as much as a form of adornment. Officials, priests, merchants, and private owners pressed their seals into clay bullae to close letters, sacks, and storerooms. Garnet, carnelian, chalcedony, and jasper were the preferred stones. The zebu, the humped cattle of South Asia, is one of the most common animals on these seals. Its frequent appearance reflects the empire's close commercial and cultural ties with the Indian subcontinent. Garnets cut with a convex face and a hollowed back belong to a wider late antique taste for this stone, which was valued for its saturated red when thinned enough to let light through. 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 #205523

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