**First Time At Auction**

Central Asia - Mesopotamia, eastern Mediterranean to northern Africa, ca. 21st to 8th century BCE. Two very fine and rare cylinder stamp seals, each in carved and incised carnelian. Left example shows standing god or ruler holding a staff standing upon a zoomorph - probably a running horse - supplicant approaching to his right, hand holding a wreath, star and another object in the field. Seal on right shows ruler seated upon cross-hatched throne holding a rhyton in his extended right hand, individual approaching a shrine that separates them, palm tree behind, crescent moon above. Size: .625" H (1.6 cm) for tallest.

Cylinder seals like this example were used by individuals in every level of society - from kings and rulers, to merchants and tradespeople, to workers and slaves - to communicate messages. They often were handed down from father to son, sometimes with minor differences added to differentiate the new owner from the old.

Provenance: private Healy collection, Studio City, California, USA, acquired February 26, 2014; ex-Arte Primitivo; ex-Vincent Funicello collection, Brooklyn, New York, USA, 1930s-1970s

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#175161

Each intact and quite excellent. Details generally very clear. Clay impression included with each.