Levantine Stamp Seal with Antelope

Culture: Levant

Period: Late 2nd millennium B.C.

Material: Black stone

Dimensions: 2 cm x 1.6 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 6490

Provenance: From the German collection Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012).

Condition: Intact

Description: Levantine stamp seal of black stone with a rectangular, densely engraved image area. Depicted is a slender animal with horns and spread legs, possibly an antelope, which has its head raised to eat from a tree. Around the animal thick branches. The image area is framed. The handle is rounded and lengthwise pierced for suspension. On the handle a tag with the collection number 878. In ancient times seals guaranteed the authenticity of labelled properties. As such, they served for legal transactions and protected good from theft. Usually, these seals were worn around the neck or on a belt, where they always were handy.