Ancient Central Asia, Bactria, ca. 2100 to 1600 BCE. A hand-carved gray steatite stamp seal of a discoid form bearing a scalloped edge and topped with an integral handle. Inscribed on the stamp face is a central image of a lizard with extended legs and scaly body that is chasing or eating a spider while being flanked by a pair of scorpions, their tails seemingly stinging the lizard on its side and back right leg. Size: 2.1" W x 1" H (5.3 cm x 2.5 cm)

Provenance: private Southern California collection, USA, bestowed 2006; ex-J. Malter collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired before 2006

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#161149

Minor abrasions to topside, handle, and zoomorphic imagery on stamp face, otherwise intact and very good. Great preservation to zoomorphic motif.