Janus Antiquities and Art
Home
 
Nice Sasanian Stamp Seal of a Bird

browse these categories for related items...
Directory: Antiques:Regional Art:Ancient World:Near Eastern:Stone: Pre AD 1000: Item # 586152

Click to view additional online photographs
detail 1 detail 2


Janus Antiquities
By Appointment
New Jersey
(330) 612-3957

Guest Book

$140

Nice Sasanian Stamp Seal of a Bird
Long an opponent of the Roman and Byzantine empires, the Sasanian empire (AD 224-642) was the last independent Persian monarchy before the Arab conquest of Western Asia in the 7th Century AD. The Sasanian Dynasty began with a regional ruler in the province of Fars in southwest Iran, whose empire eventually stretched from India to the Black Sea after defeating the last of the Parthian emperors. The state religion was Zoroastrianism and many seals bear testament to the importance of this faith in their art.

This seal is rendered in rich, red carnelian. The base features a carving of a squat bird with linear feathers and a curved beak. A dashed design element partially encircles the design. My best guess on this one is a pheasant; see the online collection, Sasanian Seals from the Collection of the Late Edward Gans, at UC Berkeley, #30.S.07:

http://ecai.berkeley.edu/sasanianweb/docs/sasanianseals.html

AGE: 400-642 A.D.

CONDITION: Intact and nice.

DIMENSIONS: 1.1 cm long


Page design by TROCADERO © 1998-2008
Home Join Shops Map Terms Help