Ancient Near East / Central Asia, Iran / Afghanistan region, Bactrian culture, ca. 2000 to 1700 BCE; Eastern Turkey, Iran, and Armenia, Urartu culture, Iron Age, ca. 800 BCE; Achaemenid Persian Empire, ca. 550 to 330 BCE. A wonderful trio of 3 stone stamp seal beads from the Ancient Near East: 1 from Bactrian culture, 1 from ancient Urartu, and the last from the Achaemenid Empire. First, the Bactrian seal is the largest, featuring a square form, a stylized lion incised on each side, and a lateral drill hole. Next, the Urartian bead is cylindrical with a zoomorphic image on its underside and a suspension loop at the top. Last, the Achaemenid bead is rectangular with a vertical drill hole and displays a pair of rampant, confronting ibexes flanking a plant on one side and an abstract, linear design on the other. Size of largest (lions): 1.25" L x 1.375" W (3.2 cm x 3.5 cm)

Provenance: private Matrisciano collection, Thousand Oaks, California, USA, before 2002; ex Encino, California, USA collection

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#176477

Chipping to top right corner of Achaemenid stamp seal, and all have weathering and surface wear with nicks and abrasions. Otherwise, all 3 are intact with liberal remaining detail. Suspension hole of Achaemenid bead is filled with earthen deposits on one side inhibiting wear, but other 2 are wearable as beads or pendants.