Lot 75
Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Old Babylonian Period, ca. 1900 to 1600 BCE. A powerful relic of ritual and cosmic symbolism, this finely carved hematite cylinder seal is densely populated with vivid figural motifs that speak to both terrestrial ceremony and celestial order. Meticulously incised across its dark, smooth surface, the scene features a striking array of human figures set amidst astral signs and sacred gestures. At the center stands a rare frontally facing female figure, rendered bare-chested with one arm dramatically raised. Her long fluted skirt fans outward to one side, exposing an extended leg in a pose suggestive of dance, invocation, or priestly performance. To either side of her stride two nude male figures in profile, each depicted in motion, their limbs energetically extended. Between one of these men and a heavily robed, profile striding figure, a smaller female form stands nude and front-facing, her scale perhaps signaling youth, divinity, or symbolic subordination. Size: 1" L x 0.5" Diameter (2.5 cm x 1.3 cm)
The field is scattered with motifs of celestial significance: dots and star-like symbols - hallmarks of divine or astral presence - evoke Mesopotamian interest in the heavens as both calendar and pantheon. The register composition is tight and deliberate, with the forms overlapping slightly to create a rhythmic, almost theatrical frieze.
Cylinder seals such as this were worn as beads and used to impress repeating scenes into wet clay, authenticating documents or asserting status. The frontal pose and astral emblems suggest this seal may have depicted a ritual drama or mythic procession related to Inanna-Ishtar or other deities of fertility, war, or the stars. Impression reveals strong linear clarity and deeply cut forms, attesting to the seal's functional life and the skill of its maker. A rare example of narrative compression and visual storytelling in miniature, still eloquent after nearly four millennia.
Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
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#194370
- Condition: Age-expected surface wear with liberal remains of detail. Otherwise, nice presentation with smooth surfaces. Wearable as a bead or pendant.
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