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X-Large Near Eastern Anatolian Marble Seal
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Near Eastern:
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Pre AD 1000 item# 943121
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$865.00
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This piece is an exceptionally large carved marble seal that is approximately 2 inches in diameter by .75 inches high. This piece dates circa 4th Millennium B.C., and is flat on one side with an oval shape on the other. The flat side displays a running ibex that is seen facing right, and there is a crescent moon and a single dot solar symbol that is is seen above. There is also a bow drilled hole that is seen running through the center, and this piece was probably attached to a cord that was worn over the neck of the individual that owned this piece. This piece likely served as an individual seal for the owner, and may have been used as a mark of value. The design was also bow drilled, as there are individual bow-drilled circles that constitute the overall design that is seen on the flat face of this scarce piece. This piece is analogous to an example seen in Bonhams Antiquities, London, May 2008, no. 348. This type of design is also analogous to several cultures that were found in the ancient Near East during this early period, and this type of design is often seen in Anatolia/North Syria, and is often found on hardstone seals made from black steatite. The marble that this piece is made from, was likely imported into the region, and it is a scarce material for a seal this large. This piece has a nice light grey patina and there are spotty white and light brown calcite deposits. There are also some concentrated straight marks on the oval side, and this piece may also have served as a wet stone for a blade during a later period in antiquity. A nice rare seal not often seen on the market. Ex: Erlenmeyer Collection, Basel, Switzerland. Ex: Sotheby's Antiquities, London, June 1997, no. 1. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Near Eastern Sumerian Banded Marble Fox Stamp Seal
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Pre AD 1000 item# 778770
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$1865.00
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This banded white and light yellow marble Sumerian stamp seal is in the form of a recumbent fox and dates circa 3500-2900 B.C. This superb piece is approximately 1.25 inches long and is an exceptional example for the type. This esoteric piece has a bow drilled hole that runs through the top to the bottom center, and there are two animals seen on the flat back side that were carved into the piece. The overall carving of this piece is very detailed and represents a high degree of workmanship, as this piece was produced at the very dawn of civilization when city-states were first formed. The two animals, seen on the back flat side, appear to be identical and served as a stamp and/or seal, and may have represented value in a transaction. This mint quality stamp seal/amulet appears to be a fox, as the head is very angular, along with the raised ears. ( For another analogous example see Sotheby's Antiquities, "The Ada Small Moore Collection of Ancient Near Eastern Seals", New York, Dec. 1991, no. 3, $3,000.00-$5,000.00 estimates. ) This piece was probably part of a necklace, and the vertical bow drilled hole allowed this piece to hang with other seals/amulets of this type. This translucent piece has some spotty mineral deposits, and these deposits can be seen within the eyes, and become darker when one looks through this piece into a lighted background. ( See attached photo. ) This eerie effect makes this piece look alive, and the deposits seen within the eyes may in part be original inlay. Only a skilled artist could achieve this visual effect. This exceptional piece is mounted on a custom plexiglas stand, can easily lift off the stand, and can be worn today. Ex: Joel Malter collection, Los Angeles, CA. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Near Eastern Sassanian Ellipsoid Pegasus Seal
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Pre AD 1000 item# 598668
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$675.00
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This Sassanian seal has an image of Pegasus on the flat side and this piece dates circa 4th-5th century A.D. This seal was carved into a white chalcedony stone and it is translucent. This carving is very deep and the seal impression has high relief. This piece has an ellipsoid form with one flat side and it is in superb condition, with no cracks or chips. There are some spotty mineral deposits and the seal is very sharp. This piece was used for commercial transactions and was a personal seal. The Pegasus is a Greek image and was a mythical winged horse that sprung from the blood of Medusa, when Perseus had cut off her head. According to Ovid, Pegasus fixed his residence on Mount Helicon, where, by striking the ground with his foot, he instantly raised a fountain, which has been called the spring of Hippocrene. This seal shows Pegasus with a raised left front leg, and may be seen striking the ground. This piece was produced in modern day Iran and the chalcedony stone is native to the region. This piece is approximately .75 inches in diameter and is approximately .7 inches high. This seal is scarce with the Pegasus image. Ex: Joel Malter collection, Los Angeles, CA. Ex: Private California collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Near Eastern Sumerian Rock Crystal Bull Amulet
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Pre AD 1000 item# 752891
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$2675.00
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This piece is a carved rock crystal amulet that is in the form of a recumbent bull. This rare piece is Sumerian, and dates circa 3500-3200 B.C. This piece is approximately 1.1 inches long and .5 inches wide, and is very large for a rock crystal amulet of this type. There is also a bow drilled hole that runs from the top center to the bottom of the piece, and this was used to attach this piece to a necklace. These necklaces included additional animal amulets/seals, and other known types of these amulets and seals were made from red chalcedony, lapis lazuli, agate, and onyx. The rock crystal types are the rarest, as this hard stone was difficult to carve and had to be imported into the region (lower Mesopotamia). The Sumerian culture was one of the earliest cultures that used amulets and cylinder seals for commercial and religious reasons. This piece was produced during a period when urban culture was coming into existence, along with the formation of city-states, and the piece offered here marked the wearer with a social status, as amulets of this type were also thought to have been imbued with magical powers. Rock crystal pieces of this type are thought by many academics to represent wealth and power, and this may also explain the bull as a type. ( See "Art of the Ancient Near and Middle East" by Carel J. Du Ry, Abrams Pub., New York, 1969, pp. 32-48. In addition, see Sotheby's Antiquities, New York, "The Ada Small Moore Collection of Ancient Near Eastern Seals", Dec. 1991, no. 1-4 and 28. On page 14 the Reverend Paul Moore, the grandson of Ada Small Moore, mentions an ancient cuneiform text that reads: "A seal of crystal portends that he shall enlarge profits; his name shall be good." ) The bull seen on this amulet is seen in the recumbent position with the legs folded underneath, and the head is turned to the right. This design of the bull is in a compact position, and this makes the drilled eyes even more expressive. The stone is also translucent, and this also gives this bull amulet an animated look. This piece is complete and is in superb condition, save a small fracture seen on the upper head. This piece comes with a custom stand and can easily be removed. Ex: Sotheby's Antiquities, New York, Dec. 1995, no. 155. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Near Eastern Black Steatite Spindle Whorl with Figures
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Stone:
Pre AD 1000 item# 968903
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$625.00
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This charming piece is a black steatite spindal whorl that was used for weaving textiles. This pieces dates circa 3100-2600 B.C. and is likely Anatolian or Syrian, as the four figures seen on this piece are analogous to the figures seen on carved cylinder seals for the period and region. (See Sotheby's Antiquities, London, "Western Asiatic Cylinder seals and Antiquities from the Erlenmeyer Collection, Part 1", July 1992, no. 31-33.) Black steatite is very difficult to carve, as it is a very hard stone, and this adds to the rarity of this piece. In addition, this type of stone comes mostly from the Syrian region, and cylinder seals, rather than spindle whorls, are much more common. This piece is approximately 1.25 inches in diameter, by .5 inches high. This piece is conical in shape, has a hole bow drilled through the center, and has four separate registers with a figure within. Two of the figures seen in profile may be images of a deer, and a dog or a wolf. The other two images may be seen from the top, and may represent the same animals, but if seen in profile, they are very anthropomorphic, and its also possible that both views were meant to be portrayed. This piece has very minute root marking and striations that are seen on the entire piece which is a good sign of authenticity, in addition, there are mineral deposits seen in many of the low relief points. This piece is scarce to rare, and is in superb condition for the type. A custom stand is included. Ex: Private French collection. Ex: David Leibert collection, New York. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Near Eastern Sassanian Steatite Ellipsoid Animal Seal
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Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Near Eastern:
Stone:
Pre AD 1000 item# 924673
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$565.00
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This Sassanian seal has an image of an animal, possibly a wolf or a fox. The carved image is seen on the flat side of the piece, and this piece dates circa 4th-5th century A.D. The carving is done by the creation of deep lines which accent the limbs and head of the animal. This piece is made of a hard black steatite, which is very difficult to carve, and consequently, there are few Sassanian seals that are made from this material. This piece is approximately .6 inches high, and has six carved round decorative circles that are carved in high relief. These circles are a hallmark of fine Sassanian artistic style, and this type of carving is seen on carved Sassanian glass beakers. (For the type see "Masterpieces of Glass in The British Museum", by D.B. Harden, London, 1968, no.137.) There is also a bow-drilled hole that is seen at the center of the piece, and this piece was probably part of a necklace. There are some dark brown deposits seen in various sections of the piece, and there are some minute stress cracks which are an excellent mark of authenticity. This type of seal is scarce, as the material is made of a hard black steatite and the degree of workmanship is very high. This piece is from modern day Iran and the black steatite stone is native to this region. Ex: Joel Malter collection, Los Angeles, CA. Ex: Private CA. collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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