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Details
LOT 0026
Minoan Brown Stone Stamp Seal
MID 2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
7/8 in. (6.36 grams, 22 mm).
Discoid with keeled upper face, underside with a crouching two-headed beast, open mouths with lolling tongues, the second head reaching towards a smaller hunting dog above.
Provenance
From the late R. Priday collection, formerly of Brookmans Hall, Hertfordshire, UK, formed in the 20th century.
Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12514-231463.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Literature
Cf. similar seals in Betts, J.F., Corpus der Minoischen und Mykenischen Siegel, Band X, Die Schweizer Sammlungen, Berlin, 1980, no.41 (for the shape), p.84, and nos.150-151, pp.156, for similar lions; Boardman, J., Greek Gems and Finger Rings, Early Bronze Age to Late Classical, London, 1970 (2001), nos.138 [lioness suckling a cub], 178 [contorted lion], 193 [a contorted lion and a tree].
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