Name/Title
CE 0200 - 0700 Sasanian Agate Stamp SealDescription
A large Sasanian stamp seal finely carved from a beautiful dark agate with multi-coloured striations, featuring a recumbent quadruped. The seal features a large dome, perforated horizontally for suspension. The flat, ovoid face of the seal has been carved with a recumbent quadruped likely a feline figure or lion. The figure is rendered stylistically with delicate incisions portraying its long, curving tail, curving body, narrow, bent legs, mane, circular eye, and open mouth. Encrustations and signs of wear as consistent with age, such as perforations to the stone, scratches, and chipping, particularly to the perforations.
Seals were often made of stone however there are also examples rendered in bone, ivory, faience, glass, metal, wood, and even sun-dried or baked clay. In the ancient world, seals guaranteed the authenticity of marked ownership - as such, they were instrumental in legal transactions, and in the protection of goods against theft. Seal amulets with stylised animals have been found throughout Mesopotamia in contexts dating to the late fourth millennium BC, although stamp seals and cylinder seals were the predominant types in the ancient Near East.
Measurements: (circa) L 2.5cm x W 1.7cm x H 2.1cm
Provenance: Ex major SM., London, Collection 1970-2010.
CULTURE
Sasanian
CENTURY/ TIMEFRAME
Circa 3rd-7th Century AD
NAME OF OBJECT
Stamp Seal with Recumbent
Quadruped
ACQUIRED FROM
Private collection
YEAR ACQUIRED
2017
MATERIAL
Agate
COUNTRY ACQUIRED FROM
Unknown
CONDITION
Good
PREVIOUS OWNER ACQUIRED FROM
Private collection
PREVIOUS OWNER - YEAR
ACQUIRED
1970
PREVIOUS OWNER - COUNTRY
ACQUIRED FROM
Unknown
I VERIFY THAT I HAVE
OBTAINED THIS OBJECT LEGALLY AND THAT I AM ALLOWED TO SELL IT
Yes
AUTHENTICITY
Original/officialCreate Date
June 1, 2026Update Date
June 29, 2026
