Ancient Near East, Babylon or Sumeria, Late Ur III period or Isin Dynasty, ca. late 3rd to early 2nd millennium BCE. A ceramic cuneiform "biscuit" and a carved white stone cylinder seal. The cuneiform tablet has a rounded, pillow-like body made from fired clay, and has narrow horizontal bands of impressed script across both sides. The white stone roll-out seal has abstract animal and human designs incised into the surface, and is drilled through the middle for suspension. Both biscuit and seal are wonderful demonstrative examples of some of the earliest forms of writing and art in the ancient world. Size of cuneiform biscuit: 1.375" H (3.5 cm); size of cylinder seal: 0.75" H (1.9 cm).

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection

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.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#128648

Expected surface wear to both items commensurate with age and use. Minor losses to cuneiform tablet around peripheries and small area of repair with visible adhesive residue. Minor losses to terminals of cylinder seal, with fading to incised details.