Catalog (402)

Interesting huge seal from the Oberländer collection. It was described as unidentified and probably ceramic, but to us it looks like Limestone, but we're not certain. At first glance it looks like a Pre-Columbian seal, but details doesn't compute and there were no Pre-Columbian seals in the collection, so it could be from Mesopotamia / Western Asia, we're not certain.

It's sold as guaranteed ancient and 800+ years old.

Size: 35 mm tall and 36 mm. thick!

Conditi...

Interesting huge seal from the Oberländer collection. It was described as unidentified and probably ceramic, but to us it looks like Limestone, but we're not certain. Ancient Pre-colombian or Western Asian? There were no other precolumbian items in the collection.

It's sold as guaranteed ancient and 800+ years old.

Size: 38 mm tall and 27 mm. thick!

Condition: Very fine, with overall wear and few chips.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Ob...

A larger early square stamp seal in brown Serpentine, Mesopotamia, Early 3rd. millenium BC.

An attractive seal drilled to be mounted to a string and engraved with astylized figure.

Size: 27 mm. x 24 mm.

Provenance: Part of the inventory of the Coin and antiquities dealer Karl kress, Munich, 1950s.-1960s.

A scarce Sumerian stamp seal in greenish black stone, Mesopotamia, ca. 4th. millenium BC.

The seal predynastic and very interesting in that it has a double image of animals and a labyrint.

Size: 28 mm. long and 19 mm. wide.

Condition: Choice, fine patina and wear but intact.

Ex. German Collection (Berlin), collected from the 1980s and onwards.

Comes with collectors own notes and photos mounted on filt with a hard wax impression.

Very large and impressive early Dynastic or pre-dynastic stamp seal, Mesopotamia, ca. late 4th.-early 3rd. millenium BC.

The seal hemispheric, drilled through the top in a greenish-black stone with a high relief engraving of a 4-legged animal.

Size: 30 mm. in diameter and 16,5 mm. high.

Condition: Choice, fine patina and wear but intact.

Ex. German Collection (Berlin), collected from the 1980s and onwards.

Comes with collectors own notes a...

Fine seal carved in Quartz-Diorite, engraved with winged animal, likely a Griffin, on the base, Neo-Assyrian, 9th-6th. century BC.

Very attractive stone carved in a pyramidal shape with small piercing at the top. The use of diorite in art was most important among very early Middle Eastern civilizations such as Ancient Egypt, Babylonia, Assyria, and Sumer. It was so valued in early times that the first great Mesopotamian empire—the Empire of Sargon of Akkad—listed the taking of dio...

A beautiful and very scarce stamp seal, scaraboid shape, Neo-Babylonian, ca. 8th.-6th. century BC.

The seal superbly polished in a multi-layered banded agate stone. On the base carved with a winged beast.

Size: 18 mm.

Condition: Choice!, signs of much ancient use with wear around the edges of the horisontical piercing.

Ex. Egeskov Private Collection, ex Senatus Consulto, 2003, formerly in a German Private Collection 1970-1989.

A rarely seen scaraboid stamp seal, carved in Onyx stone, Assyrian, ca. 12th. century BC.

Attractive stamp seal carved with the scetchy image of a bull, scarab-shape after Egyptian model of the New Kingdom.

Size: 11 mm.

Condition: Choice, light chips around the horisontical piercing as usual othervise perfect.

Ex. Austrian private Collection, ca. 1970.

A large and very beautiful cloudy Chalcedony stamp seal, Neo-babylonian period of Mesopotamia, 9th.-7th. century BC. A large and very beautiful cloudy Chalcedony stamp seal, Neo-babylonian period of Mesopotamia, 9th.-7th. century BC.

Pyramidal shape. Decorated with a stylized image, hole through the top.

Very nice stone quality.

Size: ca. 36-37 mm.

Ex. German Private Collection

A high quality trapezoid stamp seal of the Neo-Babylonian type, 8th.-6th. cent. AD.

unusual and very beatiful stone used to carve this accomplished seal in antiquity. The stone is a banded agate with red inclusions, carved and polished in a an octagonal and pyramidal shape.

The seal engraved with a springing stagg or deer.

Size: 20 mm. tall and 18 mm. wide at the base.

Condition: Choice and intact, minor ancient wear.

Ex. Danish Pivate Co...

A rare and lovely Scaraboid stamp seal in a pink stone, Assyrian, ca. 12th.-10th. century AD.

The shape emulates the Egyptian scarabs from the period, but made in a rare pink hardstone and with a typical later Assyrian stylized design of the seal plate.

Size: 15 mm.

Condition: Superb for type, very hard stone.

Ex. Danish Private Collection

A wonderful old Mesopotamian / Sumerian Cylinder seal, 4th.-early 3rd. mill. BC.

A vividly carved seal in high relief (shaped like an hour glass), engraved with stylized animals, pre-dynastic very early seal.

Size: 19-20 cm. tall and 14 mm. wide.

Ex. German Private Collection

A very nice assortment of Ancient Near Eastern cylinder seals, Mesopotamia, ca. 2200-1800 BC.

The selection consists of three Old Babylonian and Isin Larsa types with a worshipper before the throne of Ea, along with provincial types. They are carved in different types of hardstones

The largest seal measure 28 mm. and the smallest ca. 15 mm.

Condition: Largest intact group with some wear, the larger seal with chips.

Ex. Old German and US Collections, ...

Interesting lot of three amulets, two in stone and one in bronze dating from ca. 2000 BC-1000 AD.

The lot consists of a larger Islamic bronze pendant or amulet, 55 mm. long and another serpentine stone amulet with engraved decoration or writing (Hittite?), ca. 1st. millenium BC and a third amulet in stone, grooved and likely a fertility amulet Anatolia or Mesopotamia, 2nd.-1st. mill BC.

Nice lot that calls for more research!

Ex. German Private Collection

A fine stamp seal in a greenish black serpentine stone, probably Northern Mesopotamia, 5h.-4th. millenium BC.

A very early hemispheric seal with a fine free style engraving of an animal on the face and a loop at the back.

Size: 21-22 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Good Very fine, lovely patina!

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old...

Fine stamp seal made in white stone, South Mesopotamia, Late Uruk / Jemdet nasr period, 3300-2900 BC.

Hemispheric seal carved with dots in the drill style.

Size: 26 mm. in diameter.

Comes with the original collection ID-Card from the Oberländer collection!

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old collections. Gustav Oberländer spe...

Wonderful large Tabloid seal in greenish-black Serpentine stone, North-Mesopotamian, 2nd. half of the 4th. mill. BC.

The seal rectangular - tablet formed - engraved with architectorial elements, likely Ladders and line decoration.

Size: 35 mm. tall and 29 mm. wide.

The Tabloid seals represent a special group of later 4th. millenium seals, often decorated with long ladder-like elements, perhaps representing a way to the heavens.

Seals in the pre-hist...

A scarce, seldomly offered, hemispheric stamp seal, probably Luristan or Susa area, pre-historic period, 5th.-4th. millenium BC.

The seal of an excellent style and nice carved in a serpentine black stone with a star radiating from a circular borders and a central dot.

Size: c. 20 mm. wide.

Condition: Nearly Extremely fine, very nice!.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 20...

A massive sub-rectangular seal with high handle and perforation, in black large grained stone, Halaf period, 6th. millenium BC.

The seal is beautifully engraved with a leaf design with a central line and diagonal strokes off it.

Size: 38-39 mm. long - unusually large for the early fabric.

Condition: Near Very Fine, loss at the side and some roughness, deep relief seal. Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important coll...

A wonderful large round stone seal with loop at the back and a fine square cross-line design on the seal, Mesopotamia, 6th.-5th. millenium BC.

Size: 33 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Nice VF, some wear, especially to the loop from ancient use.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old collections. Gustav Oberländer specialized in early stamp sea...

A very large and scarce round gable stamp seal in black serpentine stone, Anatolia, c. 4th. millenium BC.

The fine seal with central drilling and carved with an animal on the base.

Size: 35 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Nice VF, some wear, especially to the drilled hole from ancient use.

This seal comes with the original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important col...

A nice early cylinder seal in white marple, carved with the 'eye' or circle/rhomboid form - a characteristic and significant design for the Period.

The Jemdet Nassr Period in seal manifacturing,3300-2900 BC, were spreading from Southern Mesopotamia, where a great number of administrative cuneiform tablets and seals came from. Such seals was used to impress pictures or descriptions into soft, prepared clay. These seals guaranteed the authenticity of marked ownership: as such, they were...

A very nice early cylinder seal in white marple, carved with a characterestic and significant geomethric design for the Period.

A nice thick cylinder in a high quality white marple stone!

The Jemdet Nassr Period in seal manifacturing,3300-2900 BC, were spreading from Southern Mesopotamia, where a great number of administrative cuneiform tablets and seals came from. Such seals was used to impress pictures or descriptions into soft, prepared clay. These seals guaranteed the aut...

A thick early cylinder seal in white-yellow marple, carved with the 'eye' or circle/rhomboid form - a characteristic and significant design for the Period.

The Jemdet Nassr Period in seal manifacturing,3300-2900 BC, were spreading from Southern Mesopotamia, where a great number of administrative cuneiform tablets and seals came from. Such seals was used to impress pictures or descriptions into soft, prepared clay. These seals guaranteed the authenticity of marked ownership: as such, t...

A fine large oval stamp seal in green black stone, Uruk period, later 4th. mill. BC.

The seal is carved with a wonderful image of 6 centopedes in high relief, drilled horisontically.

Size: 37 mm. long.

Condition: Very Fine, with loss to small part of the but leaving the design almost intact.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from ...

A very unusual and attractive, larger stamp seal, round and conical, the back with a large high relief cross, North Mesopotamia or Syria, c. 4th. millenium BC.

Carved in a black stone and the face of the seal, engraved with crossed line design.

Size: 27 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Good Very fine for the elaborate type, fine wear and patina, basically intact.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important coll...

An high quality thick / massive cylinder seal in fine white marple, carved with the 'eye' or circle/rhomboid pattern - a characteristic and significant design for the Period. The seal is slightly conical as tipical for the latest seals of Jemdet Nasr.

The Jemdet Nassr Period in seal manifacturing,3300-2900 BC, were spreading from Southern Mesopotamia, where a great number of administrative cuneiform tablets and seals came from. Such seals was used to impress pictures or descriptions i...

A large and rare stamp seal made in an interesting pale green stone, South Mesopotamia, Late Uruk / Jemdet Nasr period, 3300-2900 BC.

Domed hemispheric seal with a fine free carving in a drill style of running animals.

Size: 32-33 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Very fine, few ancient micro chips and wear, but basically intact and attractive.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 -...

A very large and lovely round stamp seal with a fine symethric cross or star engraving with confident strokes, c. 4th. millenium BC.

In dark green stone. Halaf style, Mesopotamia, but is likely to be 4th. millenium revival style since it's carved in this low rounded gableform.

Such a large and early seal in good style is rarely seen on the market.

Size: 39-40 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Good Very fine, complete and undamaged, with a nice smooth anc...

An low hemispheric stone seal of the Cruciform design family, Anatolia or Syria, Uruk period, c. 3500 BC.

An early seal in a jet black stone with a nice and symethric engraving of an angle-filled cross.

Size: c. 18-19 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Nice Very Fine, much smooth wear, but completely intact and attractive.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at repu...

Interesting and unclassified blackstone button stamp seal, carved with cross and pellets, c. 4th. millenium BC.

Probably Mesopotamian or from ancient near east, carved in quite high relief in a nice jet-black stone.

Size: 19-20 mm.

Condition: Near fine, the seal has a fine and intact imprint, with an ancient loss / damage to the upperside of the seal over the loop, which is also intact.

A rare substantial rectangular stamp seal with pronounced handle at the back and engraved with a fine 4 parallel panels of Zig-zag patterns, c. 4th. millenium BC, perhaps somewhat earlier.

Size: 24-25 mm. long and 20 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very Fine, near perfect condition and fine patina.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old collectio...

An low oval stone seal of the Cruciform design family, Northern Syria or Mesopotamia, Ubaid / Uruk period, c. 5th.-4th. millenium BC.

A very early seal with low handle and drill in an all black stone with a nice and symethric engraving of an angle-filled cross.

Size: c. 19-20 mm. long

Condition: Nice Very Fine, much smooth wear, but completely intact and attractive.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and import...

A larger and well-engraved Chalchedony stamp seal, Neo-babylonian period of Mesopotamia, 8th.-6th. century BC.

Trapezoid shape, decorated with a fine style image of Marduk, the main god of the early Neo-Babylonian Empire, standing in front of a complicated structure with podiums and towers, crescent above. Complete with suspension hole through the centre.

A beautiful seal with complete brownish calcified surfaces.

Size: ca. 28 mm. tall, 21 mm. wide.

Co...

Interesting bronze stamp seal, engraved with Lion in the drill style, 9th.-7th. century BC.

A knobbed seal, carved with a vivid Lion in the Neo-Assyrian style but with a likely place of manifacture to the North-East of the Neo-Assyrian Empre.

Size: 19 mm.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old collections. Gustav Oberländer specialized in...

A fine black stone stamp seal with high relief, Ancient Near East Uruk period, c. 2nd. half of the 4th. millenium BC.

High relief cross with recessed circles in each quadrant.

Reff. See Christies sale of the Erlenmeyer collection 6th. june 1989, lot 208 for a quite similar representation (finds in Tepe Sialkh and Tepe Hissar).

Size: 21-22 mm. in diameter and 11-12 mm. tall.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive a...