Neo-Assyrian cylinder seal
Price: on request
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Object number
AR3431
| Object: |
Neo-Assyrian cylinder seal
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| Material: |
Pink amethyst.
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| Period: |
Approx. 9th to 7th cent. BC. Time of the Neo-Assyrian empire, the first empire in world history. |
| Description: |
Cylindrical seal with a through hole along the central axis. The outer surface is engraved and imprints an offering scene when rolled on a soft material. The scene is placed between two bands of concentric circles. It shows two standing gods, with a human in fron of them that brought a kneeling captive. Two animals behind them. The free areas of the scene are filled with small objects.
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| Dimensions: |
28mm length, 12mm diameter.
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| Condition: |
Larger missing piece at one end of the seal. The body otherwise intact and with a well preserved surface. A seal impression does not come with this artefact.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2022 on the US-American art market. Previously in the US-American private collection of Dr. Giraud V. Foster (1928-2020). Acquired into the collection in Great Britain between 1962 and 1971. The Giraud Foster collection reflects the many facettes of his life. In the first collecting phase between 1961 and 1962, Foster was living in Yemen. He worked as the personal doctor for the last king Al Imam Ahmad bin Yahya Hamididdin (1891-1962). The time was used to build a remarkable collection of South Arabian and Yemenite art. Between 1962 and 1971 Foster lived in London and expanded his collecting interestest to other artefacts. When returning to the USA in 1971 he turned to academic research. Many archaeological papers were published and he became President and CEO of the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute. The work with the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore culminated in an exhibition and publication of a parrt of Foster's collection. Much of these objects were donated to the museum and accessioned into the permanent collection. |
| Literature: |
Other pieces from the Dr. Foster collection are seen in the 2008 catalogue published together with the Walters Art Museum: Giraud V. Foster, Regine Schulz, Faces of Ancient Arabia: The Giraud and Carolyn Foster Collection of South Arabian Art.
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| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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