This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van.Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at  More »

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van.Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful god. This unknown deity appears to have been associated with fertility and rebirth The design that adorns the of stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Pressed into soft clay or wax, they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god. Carved with an abstract simplicity but an observant eye toward nature, the stark visual appeal of this piece is timeless These seals represent dreams, hopes and aspirations for health, success, and happiness that are as old as civilization itself. v-(D.0049) Engraved Votive Seal with an Intaglio D.00 49 Origin :Lake Van,Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BC Dimension1.75" (4.4cm) high x 1" (2.5cm) wide x 75"(1.9cm) depth Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van.Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at  More »

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van.Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful god. This unknown deity appears to have been associated with fertility and rebirth The design that adorns the of stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Pressed into soft clay or wax, they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god. Carved with an abstract simplicity but an observant eye toward nature ,the stark visual appeal of this piece is timeless These seals represent dreams, hopes and aspirations for health, success ,and happiness that are as old as civilization itself. v-(D.0049) Engraved Votive Seal with an Intaglio D.0049 Origin: Lake Van,Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BC Dimension 1.75" (4.4cm) high x 1" (2.5cm) wide x 75"(1.9cm) depth Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van.Evoking the dawn of Western culture,these apparently were offerings at  More »

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van.Evoking the dawn of Western culture,these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful god.This unknown deity appears to have been associated with fertility and rebirth The design that adorns the of stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices.Pressed into soft clay or wax, they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god.Carved with an abstract simplicity but an observant eye toward nature,the stark visual appeal of this piece is timeless These seals represent dreams,hopes and aspirations for health,success,and happiness that are as old as civilization itself.v-(D.0049)Engraved Votive Seal with an Intaglio D.0049Origin:Lake Van,Anatolia Circa:4000BCto3000BCDimension1.75" (4.4cm) high x 1" (2.5cm) wide x 75"(1.9cm)depth Collection: Near Eastern Style:Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van.Evoking the dawn of Western culture,these apparently were offerings at  More »

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van.Evoking the dawn of Western culture,these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful god.This unknown deity appears to have been associated with fertility and rebirth The design that adorns the of stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices.Pressed into soft clay or wax,they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god.Carved with an abstract simplicity but an observant eye toward nature,the stark visual appeal of this piece is timeless These seals represent dreams,hopes and aspirations for health,success,and happiness that area sold as civilization itself.v-(D.0049)Engraved Votive Seal with an Intaglio D.0049Origin:Lake Van,Anatolia Circa:4000BCto3000BCDimension1.75" (4.4cm) high x 1" (2.5cm) wide x 75"(1.9cm)depth Collection: Near Eastern Style:Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: 26th Dynasty Medium: Faience The 26th Dynasty, also known as the Saite Period, is traditionally placed  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: 26th Dynasty Medium: Faience The 26th Dynasty, also known as the Saite Period, is traditionally placed by scholars at the end of the Third Intermediate Period or at the beginning of the Late Dynastic Period. In either case, the Saite Period rose from the ashes of a decentralized Egyptian state that had been ravaged by foreign occupation. Supported by the assistance of a powerful family centered in the Delta town of Sais, the Assyrians finally drove the Nubians out of Egypt. At the close of this campaign, Ashurbanipal’s kingdom was at the height of its power; however, due to civil strife back east, he was forced to withdraw his forces from Egypt. Psamtik I, a member of the family from Sais, seized this opportunity to assert his authority over the entire Nile Valley and found his own dynasty, the 26th of Egyptian history. Known as the Saite Period due to the importance of the capital city Sais, the 26th Dynasty, like many before it, sought to emulate the artistic styles of past pharaoh in order to bolster their own claims to power and legitimize their authority. Faience, which dates back to predynastic times, at least 5,000 years, is a glasslike non-clay substance made of materials common to Egypt: ground quartz, crushed quartz pebbles, flint, a soluble salt-like baking soda, lime and ground copper, which provided the characteristic color. The dried objects went into kilns looking pale and colorless but emerged a sparkling "Egyptian blue." Called tjehnet by the Ancient Egyptians, meaning that which is brilliant or scintillating, faience was thought to be filled with the undying light of the sun, moon and stars and was symbolic of rebirth. Ancient Egyptians believed the small blue-green objects helped prepare them for eternity in the afterlife.   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: 26th Dynasty Medium: Faience The 26th Dynasty, also known as the Saite Period, is traditionally placed  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: 26th Dynasty Medium: Faience The 26th Dynasty, also known as the Saite Period, is traditionally placed by scholars at the end of the Third Intermediate Period or at the beginning of the Late Dynastic Period. In either case, the Saite Period rose from the ashes of a decentralized Egyptian state that had been ravaged by foreign occupation. Supported by the assistance of a powerful family centered in the Delta town of Sais, the Assyrians finally drove the Nubians out of Egypt. At the close of this campaign, Ashurbanipal’s kingdom was at the height of its power; however, due to civil strife back east, he was forced to withdraw his forces from Egypt. Psamtik I, a member of the family from Sais, seized this opportunity to assert his authority over the entire Nile Valley and found his own dynasty, the 26th of Egyptian history. Known as the Saite Period due to the importance of the capital city Sais, the 26th Dynasty, like many before it, sought to emulate the artistic styles of past pharaoh in order to bolster their own claims to power and legitimize their authority. Faience, which dates back to predynastic times, at least 5,000 years, is a glasslike non-clay substance made of materials common to Egypt: ground quartz, crushed quartz pebbles, flint, a soluble salt-like baking soda, lime and ground copper, which provided the characteristic color. The dried objects went into kilns looking pale and colorless but emerged a sparkling "Egyptian blue." Called tjehnet by the Ancient Egyptians, meaning that which is brilliant or scintillating, faience was thought to be filled with the undying light of the sun, moon and stars and was symbolic of rebirth. Ancient Egyptians believed the small blue-green objects helped prepare them for eternity in the afterlife.   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .75" (1.9cm) wide x 2" (5.1cm) depth Collection: Egyptian Style: 26th Dynasty Medium:  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .75" (1.9cm) wide x 2" (5.1cm) depth Collection: Egyptian Style: 26th Dynasty Medium: Faience Figures of animals used for magical protection are often termed amulets of assimilation and can be assigned to what Sir Flinders Petrie the father of Egyptology designated as the homopoeic category. The idea of wearing zoomorphic amulets was based upon the belief that one or more perceived characteristics of an animal would pass to the human being wearing it. This varied according to the animal owls are said to be good luck in some parts of the world even today and some animal parts were believed to endow the wearer with good fortune. An enduring modern parallel for this ancient practice is the rabbits foot. This apple-green faience amulet depicts a recumbent maned (i.e. male) lion at rest upon an integral rectangular base. The head is held majestically erect, the forelegs extended, the rear legs retracted and the tail curled around his right haunch. The modelling of the amulet is highly accomplished, the main body being smoothly finished, and with details in relief and highlighted with incisions. The suspension loop formed from an eminence in the middle of the lions back is pierced at a right angle to the bodys long axis. In ancient Egypt, the lion has always been associated with a series of regal characteristics power, serenity, stealth and cunning with which people were eager to be associated. The long identification of pharaonic leaders with lions is evidenced by their sculptural hybridisation the famous sphinx figures. Our example is representative of a type traditionally cast in faience, and invariably shown in this pose with a suspension loop and integral base. Most examples are believed to date from Dynasty XXVI (654 625 BC), although some may be later. There is evidence to suggest that they may have played a more active role than a good luck charm. One magic spell preserved on a papyrus requires an individual to recite a spell over a lion of glazed composition threaded to red linen, so as to protect against snakebite, although it is possible that snakebite may metaphorically represent any type of accidental misfortune. - (X.0689)   « Less

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings  More »

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful god. This unknown deity appears to have been associated with fertility and rebirth. The design that adorns the of stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Pressed into soft clay or wax, they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god .Carved with an abstract simplicity but an observant eye toward nature ,the stark visual appeal of this piece is timeless These seals represent dreams, hopes and aspirations for health, success, and happiness that area sold as civilization itself. v-(D.0049) Engraved Votive Seal with an Intaglio D.0049 Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BC Dimension1.75" (4.4cm) high x 1" (2.5cm) wide x 75"(1.9cm) depth Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings  More »

This ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful god. This unknown deity appears to have been associated with fertility and rebirth The design that adorns the of stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Pressed into soft clay or wax, they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god. Carved with an abstract simplicity but nobservant eye toward nature, the stark visual appeal of this piece is timeless These seals represent dreams, hopes and aspirations for health, success, and happiness that are as old as civilizationitself .v-(D.0049) Engraved Votive Seal with an Intaglio D.0049 Origin: Lake Van,Anatolia Circa: 4000 BCto3000 BC Dimension1.75" (4.4cm) high x 1" (2.5cm) wide x 75"(1.9cm) depth Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC Collection: Amulets Style: 26th Dynasty Medium: Faience The first examples of amulets appeared in Ancient Egypt as early as 4000  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC Collection: Amulets Style: 26th Dynasty Medium: Faience The first examples of amulets appeared in Ancient Egypt as early as 4000 B.C. Believed to possess magical powers that protected the wearer or bestowed upon the properties they symbolized, amulets were worn both by the living as well as the dead. Throughout their evolution, talismans were crafted from a variety of materials including precious metals such as gold and silver, semiprecious stone like jasper and carnelian, as well as other more affordable glazed compositions such as faience. The particular powers of an individual amulet were based upon its specific shape, although the material and even the color of the charm could affect its magical abilities. While many of the amulets created to be worn by the living could also be worn after death, there also existed a specific group of charms that were made specifically to be placed upon the mummified remains of the deceased. All together, amulets represent an important class of Ancient Egyptian art that furthers our understanding of their complex religious beliefs.   « Less