Et Tu Antiquities

Contest frieze of a man, facing left, a bucking deer right and a lion on hind paws right behind the deer. 

This stone is very pleasing and the size is nice.  Condition overall is F+ - aVF, though wear on the seal obstructs details from being clearly shown.   Contest scenes towards the end of ED III are fairly common, however this example is clearly a variation on the traditional 5 figure type making this specimen a bit more interesting.

$495.00

White Marble. Jamdat Nasr.
3300 – 2750 B.C.
43 x 28 mm.

Kite shaped stamp seal carved in drill point style. Two leaping goats r. and a man facing.

This example is large but oddly shaped for the period. The iconography is similar to other examples in published collections, though none offer an exact match, as is often the case in early pieces. Condition of the faces are worn; it is difficult to make out the iconography. Still a large curious piece worthy of more analysis.

$225.00

Steatite. Syria/Southern Mesopotamia. Proto-literate period.
Late 5th - early 3rd millinium B.C.
25 mm.

Hemispheroid stamp seal of 2 busts in mirror image of each other.

This is a very nice example of an early hemispheroid that follows typically to period because of the bust in mirror image. Several published examples show animals portrayed in a similar manner. Condition on the example is extremely good – XF+ for type.

A very desirable piece.

For type, please see:
          Ashmolean II -. Erlenmeyer -. Homes Fredericq -. Rost -. 

$395.00

Steatite. Syria/Southern Mesopotamia. Proto-literate period.
Late 5th - early 3rd millinium B.C.
25 x 23 mm.

Gable type seal of a quadruped animal right and a plant.

The iconography of this particular gable seal is crude, suggesting that it is possibly an earlier example.

Condition is VF+ - aXF, with scratches on the surface, but otherwise in good condition.

$345.00

Marble. Syro-Hittite.
1300 – 1200 B.C.
18 x 15 mm.

Round stamp seal with carved decorated handle. The face of the seal shows four bulls, two with tall horns and two with rounded horns, all facing away from each other.  Two of the bulls have very distinct Hittite style large eyes, as per Dominque Beyer, “Quelques sceaux-cylindres Syro-Hittites inedits ou peu connus,” N. Ozguc festscrift, p. 71, 1 and B. Teissier, ”The ruler on Glyphtic from Kultepe,” ibid, p. 603, 3,4. They are possibly representations of the Hurri and Snurri, the divine bulls of heaven, pets of Teshub.  

This is an extremely rare and interesting Hittite seal made east of Kanesh (as per the iconography.)

Condition of the example is XF – XF+.

$1,245.00

An uncommon example for the type of iconography. This example is reminiscent of an ex: Malter example that has 4 individuals carved in a boat in terms of iconography. That example has Anatolian origins.  Condition on this specimen is VF – VF+. 

$375.00

Steatite. Provincial Syrian.
2000 – 1750 B.C.
20 mm.

Man facing with bow drawn, in crude linear style. To l. a rabbit running, facing r. Above and behind the rabbit, geometric designs.

Worn at points and some attached encrustations.

$245.00

Steatite. Syria/Southern Mesopotamia. Proto-literate period.
Late 5th - early 3rd millinium B.C.
22 mm.

Square stamp seal with carved handle. Face shows a stick figure man l. and a crescent moon and star.

The iconography on this example is unusual for the period. The seal itself is indicative of early steatite seals made in region however. Condition is fairly strong, aXF – XF. The toning from the sand deposits is also quite attractive on this piece.

$345.00

Steatite. Syria/Southern Mesopotamia. Proto-literate period.
Late 5th - early 3rd millinium B.C.
40 x 34 mm.

Nice large dual-faced specimen. Condition of the piece is F-aVF; wear on the seal around the central hole and on the seal face strictly comes from age of the piece (common wear points on these examples.).

$345.00

Contest scene of a man, facing r. and a deer rearing l. Behind the deer, a lion, l. rearing. Behind, a second man, r. holding the tail of the lion. To r. a third man and deer rearing struggle before a plant. This is a fairly well recognized Akkadian style of contest scenes, with several struggles happening on a single example. The condition of the piece is XF – XF+.

$795.00

Lapis. Old Babylonian Period.
1900 – 1650 B.C.
32 x 16 mm.

The god Adad, (god of weather) stands l. with r. arm outstretched holding a forked scepter. Before him are two naga, both facing r. The first is being presented to the god, the second behind has her hands raised in supplication.

Three line inscription behind:

Kishib [sha] …             “The seal of …
UR d. …                      Ur of …
LUGAL …                     Master (Lord) of …

Heavily damaged example.  The inscription on this example follows a very uncommon pattern for the period, that is:

Kishib [sha]
Personal Name
Title

The damage on the example is quite extensive, with only about ½ the seal readable. As well, there is a crack along the bottom portion of the seal that runs clearly through the example.

$345.00

Steatite. Syria/Southern Mesopotamia. Proto-literate period.
Late 4th millinium B.C.
45 x 42 mm.

Hemispheroid stamp seal with hatch marks running vertically and horizontally.

Scarcer example of stamp seals in the region, however these were still produced widely in period. Condition of this example is hindered because of a deposit on the back of the seal (hardened river sediment).  Otherwise a VF example.

For type, please see:
          Ashmolean II, 30

$345.00

Steatite. Syria/Southern Mesopotamia. Proto-literate period.
Late 5th - early 3rd millinium B.C.
45 x 40 mm.

Gable seal. Running Ibex right with vegetation below.

Fairly common example produced over a large period of time. The seal was probably broken on the upper right hand side, losing about 15 mm. of area in that portion of the seal. Serious wear is evident on the back of the seal, where the central hole has been exposed several mm. on the bottom of the piece.

$245.00

Blue Glass. Late Neo-Assyrian/Pre-Achaemenid period.
750 – 550 B.C.
23 x 16 mm.

Conical stamp seal with concaved face. Faint impression of a man, carved in linear style facing left and a deer bucking, facing right.

A scarcer example than other stamp seals of the era, in part because of the material used to make the seal. Condition of the seal itself is VG; though the shadow of the bucking deer is evident with enough study.

$145.00

Hemispheroid seal of a quadruped animal with horns and a tail facing left.

While these type seals are fairly common, this particular example’s iconography is dissimilar to others noted in major collections from the period. Condition of the piece is VF+, with wear evident on the central hole on both entrance points. Otherwise a pleasing example with uncommon iconography to period.

$275.00

Tan River Stone. Syria/Southern Mesopotamia. Proto-literate period.
Late 5th - early 3rd millinium B.C.
36 x 30 mm.

Rectangular stamp seal with hatch mark lines and drill points.

An interesting early example, in the shape of a plaque. Condition of the example is VF; hampered in part by wear on the central hole on both ends and obvious deterioration on the face of the seal.

$245.00