Ancient Near East, Neo-Assyrian or possibly Achaemenid period, ca. 800 to 500 BCE. A well carved cylinder seal, made from an opaque, grey-beige stone and pierced vertically for suspension. Its incised face features a standing mythical creature, a lion-headed griffin that strides forward, its magnificent wings raised and its long tail curled over its back. Arrow-like symbols flank its front and back, forming a border. The details of the wings and the clawed feet are particularly well represented. The simplicity of design and bold carving mark this as a fine example of the form. The griffin, half eagle and half lion, was a fierce symbol of divine power. Size: 0.4" W x 0.75" H (1 cm x 1.9 cm); 2.25" H (5.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Cylinder seals played a major role in the daily life of the Ancient Near East. Known as kishib in Sumerian and kunukku in Akkadian, royals, government officials, scribes, and slaves used them to transact business and send correspondence. They were worn around the neck or wrist and served as a signature and a guarantee, rolled into the moist clay of accounting and governance documents. They also link our modern world to the past - thousands of years ago, people were concerned with security and authenticity for the documents that they used to conduct business. Cylinder seals were a technological solution to a pressing problem, and their scenes are often complex to prevent forgery and identify individuals.

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

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#151471

Light wear on surface commensurate with age, although this does not obscure the motifs, which are generally clear aside from around the animal's back legs. Accompanied by a modern clay rollout.