Central Asia or Asia Minor, Bactria, ca. 2100 to 1600 BCE. A hand-carved smooth style steatite stamp seal of a discoid form and of warm red and light gray mottled hues. Incised on the stamp face is a left-facing quadruped, perhaps a camel, with a large bird of prey swooping down from above. Both animals are shown in profile, linear markings detailing the feathers and fur of both. A ring handle on the back enables this stamp to be suspended from a necklace cord. Size: 1.85" Diameter x 0.3" W (4.7 cm x 0.8 cm)

Provenance: private Southern California collection, USA, bestowed 2006; ex-J. Malter collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired before 2006

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.

#161155

Intact with no repairs, and only minor abrasions and nicks. Some softening to finer details but motifs are clear and discernable. Light mineral deposits in recessed areas.