ARCHAIC WESTERN COURT STYLE, LATE 6TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GRECO-PERSIAN ROCK CRYSTAL PYRAMIDAL STAMP SEAL WITH A HERO AND WINGED GOAT
ARCHAIC WESTERN COURT STYLE, LATE 6TH CENTURY B.C.
11/16 in. (1.8 cm.) long

Provenance

Agnes Baldwin Brett (1876–1955), New Jersey.
Giorgio Sangiorgi (1886-1965), Rome, acquired and brought to Switzerland, late 1930s; thence by continuous descent to the current owner.

Literature

H. Henning von der Osten, Ancient Oriental Seals in the Collection of , Chicago 1935, no. 138, p. 19, pl. XII.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice. The USA prohibits the purchase by US persons of Iranian-origin “works of conventional craftsmanship” such as carpets, textiles, decorative objects, and scientific instruments. The US sanctions apply to US persons regardless of the location of the transaction or the shipping intentions of the US person. For this reason, Christie’s will not accept bids by US persons on this lot. Non-US persons wishing to import this lot into the USA are advised that they will need to apply for an OFAC licence and that this can take many months to be granted.

Sale room notice

Please note that there is additional provenance for this lot and that it has also been published in H. Henning von der Osten, Ancient Oriental Seals in the Collection of Mrs. Agnes Baldwin Brett, Chicago 1935, no. 138.

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

The underside with the standing hero grasping the horns of the rearing winged goat with one hand and a sword in the other. The domed headdress would suggest that this particular hero is a Mede. For similar cf. J. Boardman, Greek Gems and Finger Rings, London, 1970, p. 351, pl. 824.

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