Achaemenid Miniature Octagonal Agate Intaglio of a Seated Winged Sphinx

拍品描述

Near East, Persia, Achaemenid or Sasanian Empire, ca. 500 BCE – 651 CE. A miniature intaglio cut from banded agate, its flat face trimmed to a crisp octagon where cream-white layers swirl against a deep reddish-brown ground. Into this small surface the engraver sank a winged sphinx, seated on its haunches with its forepaws raised and its body facing left. A curved wing sweeps up from the shoulder, and the haunches are modeled with confident drill work. A pressing in soft clay shows the image the stone was made to leave. Engraved stones like this one probably served as personal seals, worn in a ring or on a cord and pressed into clay to mark ownership and guarantee documents. The composite beast, part lion, part bird, and part human, probably also worked as a protective emblem for whoever owned it. Size: 0.35" L x 0.35" W (0.9 cm L x 0.9 cm W). Seals were central to administration and private life. Officials, priests, merchants, and private people pressed their stones into clay bullae that closed documents, sacks, and storage jars, and thousands of these impressions survive. They show a carved repertoire that included portrait busts, inscriptions, and a large range of real and fantastic animals. Winged and composite creatures were common subjects. They drew on an older Near Eastern way of depicting guardian beasts and were most likely valued as protective signs. 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 #205530

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