Large Sasanian Agate Stamp Seal Bead

Ancient Near East/Central Asia, Sasanian (Sassanian/Sassanid) Empire, ca. 2nd to 7th century CE. A large, wine red agate stamp seal bead with a flat, ovoid face and a domed body pierced through for suspension. The face has been incised to feature two bars with curved terminals, a crescent with a six-pointed star in its interior, and a ring bearing a crescent at its top and a laurel at its bottom encircling the other motifs. These symbols probably represent a specific clan or tribe. Size: 1.1" W x 0.95" H (2.8 cm x 2.4 cm)

See a very similar example in the Smithsonian's Ancient Near East Seal Collection (F1993.15.56).

Provenance: private Zaveloff collection, Lakewood, New Jersey, USA, before 2004

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#151410
Condition Report: Light wear on surface commensurate with age, notably on the edges. Comes with modern clay roll out.