I
have a number of stamp seals illustrated here which I collected during
the 1990s. All of them can either be suspended or worn but I
would advise caution, especially with the glass pieces as they are all
ancient and have survived many years that do make them more
delicate. All of the images are enlarged so please check the
notes to see their sizes.
SEAL 01. These three glass pieces are sold together.
The first is a Roman period gaming piece. It has a pattern of
lines on the curved top while the bottom of it is flat. The two
glass stamp seals to the right were identified to me by a museum
curator as very early glass - Greco Persian. The midnight blue
seal is 14mm by 11mm by 7mm. The aqua coloured seal is 13mm by
10mm by 8mm. $320.US/3 pieces (sold)
SEAL
02. This stone bead has a wonderful sprinting antlered deer
carved into it. This is around 2000 years old. 20mm long
with bead hole going from end to end. $175.US. (sold)
SEAL 03. To me this looks like a Babylonian piece but it needs
research. This is a very attractive pendant with a stringing hole
across the top, and nicely decorated on all sides. The stamp is a
human image, quite worn so the imprint is quite delicate. The
piece is 28mm tall. $245.US. (sold)
SEAL 04. This pale stone is a scareb style seal.
These were often Etruscan but I do not have a history of this
piece. I had originally researched the stamped design (I do
remember that it was strongly symbolic) in the Royal Ontario Museum
library but lost all of my information in a hard drive that died.
The new owner will have to do the research themselves. The piece
is 22mm long and 13 mm high. $230.US.
SEAL 05. This stone seal bead is patterned on all sides as
if it were a scarab. Its history needs research as well as the
image of the animal, with perhaps a branch benind it. Are those
antlers across the top, or something in the sky? The piece is
16mm by 14mm by 6mm. $160.US.
SEAL 06. This is a Sasanian (A.D. 224-651, called
Persis by the Greeks, now known as Persia) stamp seal bead carved from
carnelian... It has a wonderful little bird on it, which
shows up very clearly if you impress it into clay or fimo. It has
a slight dashed line around the flat side of the bead which adds a
graphic touch to the design... 10mm in diameter. $165.US.
SEAL 07. This Sasanian stamp seal is carved out of a pale
foggy quartz bead. The flat side of the seal portrays three
standing figures. When I originally came across this bead/seal I
thought that it was cracked, chipped and damaged on the rounded
sides. Closer examination showed that actually, the marks are
carved around the rounded part of the seal. There is a word or
phrase that I have not yet been able to translate as well as two birds
that are carved in such a way that they share the same head with their
bodies angling off in different directions... I have never seen
this type of bead with carving on all sides before. The diameter
of the bead is 15mm. The carvings on this are almost like a
secret. $350.US. (sold)
SEAL 08. The image on this stone seal bead (large stringing
hole end to end) is clearer than the image that I pressed. The
FIMO that I used was a little too warm I think. It also left
white bits on the seal but I have wiped them off now. The seal is
13mm by 11mm by 6mm. $175.US.
SEAL 09. I was excited to find this bead (made of smooth
black glass) because of the beautiful winged griffin pictured on
it... Winged creatures hold a particular fascination for
me. This magical griffin (or gryphon) who has the body of a lion,
and the head and wings of an eagle, also has a slice of moon above him,
and a human type figure in front of him... He symbolizes the
destructive powers of the "gods." The white spots that you
see on the patterned part of the bead are just bits of the
plastecine. I have wiped them off now. The bead is 15 by 13
by 7mm in size. The stringing hole goes across.
$220.US. (sold)
SEAL 10. This was bought from Alex G. Malloy about 10 years
ago. Their description is: "Proto Elamite
3000-2500BC. Black steatite, two caves advancing, bush before
each."
The seal was broken during ancient times, the longer side being 13/15
inches long, and the seal being a little thicker than 3/8 inch
across. $150.US.
SEAL 11. Here is the description that came with this
seal: "Compound figure stamp seal
C.300-600AD/Sasanian. Rare banded agate seal with intaglio
scorpion, running ibex, etc. Minor ancient edge chips.
Ancient persian empire, Afghanistan. The piece is a little more
than 5/8 inch across and the half bead is 1/2 inch tall.
$250.US.
SEAL 12. This agate amulet is not really a seal, though a
design might have been carved into the side long ago - it is not clear
now. The amulet is 1 7/15 inches tall and 1/4 inch thick.
The stringing hole goes across the top from side to side.
$95.US. (on hold)
SEAL 13. This is a tiny and beautiful Sasanian seal
bead. The side with the animal head image on it is just 3/8 inch
across. The bead itself is just under 1/2 inch
across. $160.US.
SEAL 14. I have no story to go with this stone pendant seal
- I know nothing about it and have had it in my collection for more
than 15 years. I had forgotten about it and just found it in a
bead bin. It seems to illustrate a lion with a bird above and is
very charming. The pendant is 1 1/8 inches tall and the rectangle
with the image is 5/8 by 3/4 inches. $195.US.