Large Kassite Chalcedony Cylinder Seal for the God Samnuha from Samsanu

16TH-12TH CENTURY B.C.

1 3/4 in. (22.66 grams, 46 mm).

Pierced longitudinally, incised with four columns of cuneiform script in a rectangular frame with one character outside, translating to: 'To the god Samnuha, great lord, Samsanu, sha reshi-official, for the life of [the king] Samnuha-shar-ilani, his Lord, he made and gave (this seal)'; supplied with a museum-quality impression.

Provenance

Private collection, acquired before 1993; thence by descent.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13214-249317.

Literature

Cf. similar but a more elaborate item in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, under object no.1985.357.29; see also Konstantopoulos, G., ‘Inscribed Kassite Cylinder Seals in the Metropolitan Museum’ in Metropolitan Museum Journal, 53, 2018, pp.96-113, figs.1-14.

Footnotes

Several styles of seal-carving are known from the Kassite period. Kassite period artists often drew upon the rich historical traditions of Mesopotamia. In this case, the long-dead Sumerian language and archaic signs were used to write the inscription.

CONDITION

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LOT 0218