**First Time At Auction**

Ancient Near East, Syrian Provincial, ca. 3rd millennium BCE. A fine example of a hand-carved steatite stamp seal with a suspension hole drilled laterally through the rectangular body. The incised details on the obverse face illustrate an abstract leonine creature with a powerful body, sinuous legs and tail, and a raised head with a gaping maw, all surrounded by sticks and foliage. The reverse features a right-facing bull with a pair of horns projecting from the raised head and a muscular body surrounded by similar foliage. Custom putty impressions included. Size: 1.625" L x 1.55" W (4.1 cm x 3.9 cm); 2.4" H (6.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Zaveloff collection, Lakewood, New Jersey, USA, acquired from Venus Gallery, Israel, in 2002

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#157604

Minor abrasions to both stamp faces and light encrustations within areas of incised detailing, otherwise intact and very good. Great preservation to incised details.