LOT 0550

Phoenician Terracotta Bulla with a Dolphin

5TH CENTURY B.C.

5/8 in. (1.05 grams, 17.71 mm).

Plano-convex in profile with impressed dolphin and legend.

Acquired in 1994.
Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent.
Private collection, since the late 1990s.

This Phoenician terracotta bulla, decorated with a dolphin, reflects the strong maritime identity of the Phoenician world. Bullae were typically used to seal documents or goods, serving both a practical and symbolic function in trade and administration. The dolphin, a creature closely associated with the sea, would have held particular meaning for the Phoenicians, whose culture and prosperity were deeply tied to seafaring and commerce across the Mediterranean. Often seen as a symbol of protection, guidance, and safe passage, the dolphin adds an additional layer of meaning to the object, suggesting not only its use in everyday transactions but also a connection to the wider beliefs and environment of the ancient coastal world.