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Details
LOT 1590
Western Asiatic Carnelian Cylinder Seal with Bird and Ibex
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
5/8 in. (1.71 grams, 16.91 mm).
Frieze of a rosette of pellets beside a bird with outstretched wings, starburst and crouching ibex beneath; supplied with a museum-quality impression. [No Reserve]
Provenance
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1590
Western Asiatic Carnelian Cylinder Seal with Bird and Ibex
Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
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The ibex, a wild mountain goat with distinctive curved horns, was a popular and meaningful motif in ancient Near Eastern art. It often appears in Mesopotamian and Persian imagery, where it could symbolise strength, agility, and a connection to the natural and divine worlds. In some contexts, the ibex is linked with fertility and abundance, particularly through its association with flowing water and vegetation. Its elegant form also made it well suited to small-scale objects such as seals, where its image could serve both a decorative and symbolic purpose, reflecting the beliefs and environment of the cultures that produced them.
