**First Time At Auction**

Ancient Near East, Syrian Provincial, Proto-Literate Period, ca. 3500 to 3000 BCE. A finely preserved stamp seal of a rectangular form carved from gray-green steatite with a laterally drilled suspension hole. Incised on the obverse stamp face is a left-facing ungulate, perhaps an ibex, with a stocky body, a raised head with backswept horns, and a sinuous tail. The opposite side bears an enormous snake with a spotted body and petite head surrounded by abstract linear details, perhaps sticks. Custom putty impressions included. Size: 1.55" L x 1.5" W (3.9 cm x 3.8 cm); 2.875" H (7.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Zaveloff collection, Lakewood, New Jersey, USA, acquired from Venus Gallery, Israel, in 2002

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#157602

Light abrasions to peripheries and both stamp faces, otherwise intact and very good. Great remains of pecking marks within details on stamp faces.