Large Kassite Chalcedony Cylinder Seal for the God Samnuha from Samsanu

拍品描述

16th-12th century B.C. 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. 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. 22.66 grams, 46 mm (1 3/4 in.). [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] (For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price.) 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. 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. TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists. See our website for more information.

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