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Details
LOT 1605
Western Asiatic Carnelian Portrait Gemstone Seal
1ST CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D.
3/4 in. (3.48 grams, 20 mm).
Ellipsoidal in plan and plano-convex in section with tondo, incuse profile bust with brow band; chipped.
Provenance
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
CONDITIONVETTING:
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1605
Western Asiatic Carnelian Portrait Gemstone Seal
Estimate £200 - 300€230 - 350 (for guidance only)$270 - 410 (for guidance only)
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Idols were an important part of religious life in South Arabia and across the ancient Near East. They were made as images of gods, spirits, or protective powers, and helped people feel a closer connection to the divine. These figures might be placed in temples, shrines, or even in the home, where they could have a protective or devotional role. Their shapes were often simple and stylised, with more importance placed on their meaning than on making them look fully realistic.
