**Originally Listed At $400**

Ancient Near East / Central Asia, Persia, Parthian to Sassanian Empire, ca. 200 BCE to 600 CE. A collection of stone seal beads formed from carnelian, agate, quartz, and chalcedony, each with drilled suspension holes. The largest is a white chalcedony pre-form, it was shaped and polished but the flat face was never etched. The red agate and carnelian are both engraved with stylized fish motifs that resemble palm fronds (possibly fire altars). The translucent quartz and gray stone are etched with pomegranate flowers. Size of preform: 0.89" Diameter x 0.53" W (2.3 cm x 1.3 cm)

Provenance: private Matrisciano collection, Thousand Oaks, California, USA, before 2002; ex-Malter Galleries, Encino, California, USA

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#176455

Chips and surface abrasions on all. White seal is a preform and unetched. Motifs on others are highly abstract but visible.