Details

LOT 0248

Chalcedony Pendant Stamp Seal with Mythical Creature

CIRCA 8TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.

17/8 in. (4.71 grams, 23 mm).

An Assyrian or Urartian bell-shaped seal featuring a ribbed suspension loop attached to a stepped base; on the convex underside of the seal, there is an intricate engraving depicting a mythical creature that combines the body of an eagle with a fish tail; this hybrid creature is depicted facing to the left and holding a hare in its beak, with a snake coiled around the seal's perimeter; accompanied by a museum-quality impression and a typed and signed scholarly note issued by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Chalcedony / 23 x 14.5 mm. / This has a round, convex face, and above it is a cylinder with sharply concave sides, on top of which is (of one piece with the rest) a pierced lug with grooves over its top. The design on the base shows a standing composite creature: legs, wings and head of a bird, but body of a fish. In its beak it is holding a dead hare or other such creature. Around the design is a snake, whose body does not quite complete the circle. / This is an Urartian seal, from the ancient Kingdom of Urartu, c. 800-650 B.C. It comes from the area around Lake Van. The composite creature is a typical feature of the art of this kingdom. The snake is interesting, since it is the forerunner of the famous Ourobouros on magic gems of the period c. 100 B.C. to 200 A.D. It often appears surrounding a design, but it has its tail in its mouth. This seal has very slight chipping of the edges, but generally is in very good condition.' [No Reserve]

Provenance

Private collection, England, 1990.
European art market.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, New York, 6 December 2007, no.374.
From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals.
with Bonhams, London, 7 December 2021, no.64 (£3,000 - £4,000).

Accompanied by a copy of a typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

Literature

Cf. a chrysotite Urartian loop-handled stamp seal in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, acc. no.1984.175.28, which shows a similar bird-fish hybrid monster.