Lot 431
**Originally Listed At $250**
Ancient Near East, Persia, Sasanian Empire, ca. 224 to 651 CE. A compelling pair of scaraboid beads, these objects distill the visual language of the Sasanian world into two compact yet symbolically charged forms, each inviting interpretation through line, gesture, and material. Carved from steatite and pierced for suspension, the more petite bead presents an abstract composition incised within an oval register. The central field is filled with a lattice-like pattern punctuated by short linear dashes, a design that resists easy identification. It may represent a woven basket, a stylized animal body, or a schematic emblem whose meaning was immediately legible to its ancient wearer. Such ambiguity is characteristic of Sasanian glyptic art, where abstraction often carried protective or talismanic force rather than narrative clarity. Size of larger (winged figure): 0.9" L x 0.7" W (2.3 cm x 1.8 cm)
The larger bead offers a more explicitly figural scene. A winged figure, clad in a patterned robe, faces right with arms raised in a gesture that may suggest invocation, blessing, or divine presence. Before the figure appears a plant frond, while two additional motifs hover behind, creating a layered composition rich in movement and symbolism. Winged figures in Sasanian art are frequently associated with royal glory (khvarenah), divine favor, or celestial guardianship, themes that resonate strongly within the empire's visual and religious traditions.
Together, these two beads form a dialogue between abstraction and figuration, restraint and declaration. Intended to be worn, handled, and trusted, they exemplify the Sasanian talent for compressing cosmology, power, and protection into objects of intimate scale. Even now, their incised surfaces retain a quiet authority, as if still prepared to do their work.
Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s
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#199960
- Condition: Larger has possible remains of glaze on sides. Both have some miniscule chips and small nicks, commensurate with age, but are otherwise intact and wearable with good remaining detail and clear imagery.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |