Cylinder Seal of Dark Stone - LK.147 Origin: Central Asia Circa: 2200
BC
to 2100
BC Dimensions:1.65" (4.2cm) high Collection: Near Eastern Art Medium: Dark Stone
Additional Information: f £1,600.00 Location: Great Britain
The design consists of an undulating notched
band between two lines and in each of the two
areas so created is put a big bird with head
sideways at the top, wings spread beneath,
and tail feathers spread at the bottom. To fill
the spaces the birds are laced tête bêche.
This is an unusually large and fine specimen of
a type of seal known, but so far little known.
Three much smaller ones were excavated at
Ur, But without providing sure dating. But
they can be placed with some assurance in the
period at the end of the Akkad dynasty, and
before the rise of the Third Dynasty of Ur, c.
2200-2100 B.C. The stone of this one is worn,
but the design has survived very well due to
the skill of the ancient engraver. It should be
called Sumerian art.