Gold Cylinder Seal with Standing Figures
Mesopotamian style · 19.9K gold
A small gold cylinder engraved around its whole circumference with standing figures, bored through for a cord.
- Style
- Mesopotamian style; made now
- Form
- Cylinder seal, bored through its length
- Gold
- 19.9 karat — 83.0% gold by XRF
- Dimensions
- 1.6 × 0.9 cm (⅝ × ⅜ in.)
- Weight
- 4 g
- Category
- Gold
- Reference
- VFA-013
- Price
- US$ 580
Catalogue Note
The cylinder seal was the signature of the ancient Near East for three thousand years: rolled across wet clay, it prints a continuous frieze of whatever is cut into its surface. This one is made in gold rather than the more usual stone, and is engraved with standing figures in long garments that will print as a band when rolled.
It reads 83 per cent gold by XRF, just under 20 karat. It can be worn on a cord or chain through the central bore, or kept as the small object it is; rolled across modelling clay it takes an impression.
The price includes packing; carriage is quoted at cost once we know the destination. Write to us to buy it, or to ask anything at all beforehand — we answer the same day and send an invoice payable by card or transfer.
Enquire about No. XIII