Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture,  More »

Shaped like an abstract bird, 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 nature god. The design that adorns them—of birds, animals, seated idols—probably 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. It is possible that the bird, arecurringmotif, wasassociatedwiththeideaofthesoul.Carvedithabstractsimplicitybutanobservanteyetowardnature,thestarkvisualappealofthispieceistimeless.Thesesealsrepresent dreams, hopes and aspirations for health, success, andhappiness that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0045)Bird Effigy Votive Seal with Intaglio - D.0045Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 2.75" (7.0cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

The Phoenicians were one of the most important civilisations of the ancient world, and flourished from around 1500 to 300 BC. Their world was centred on Northern Israel,  More »

The Phoenicians were one of the most important civilisations of the ancient world, and flourished from around 1500 to 300 BC. Their world was centred on Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria, while their sphere of conquest and influence extended throughout the Mediterranean and even beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the Straits of Gibraltar) and into the Mediterranean-Atlantic. Their power was due primarily to their mastery of seamanship – which they developed to a whole new level during their pre-eminence – and extremely well-organised administration which was strengthened by extensive use of the alphabet. Indeed, it was the Phoenicians who introduced the alphabet to the Greeks, who in turn passed it onto the rest of the Western World. They were essentially Canaanites, to whom they were identical in sociocultural and material terms, the only difference being the massive range over which their cultural remains and heritage can be found. Phoenician society was comparatively stable when compared to the changeable fortunes of other Eastern Mediterranean cultures, primarily due to its broad royal, political and religious foundations. The town of Byblos became a major hub for trade all over the Fertile Crescent, followed by Tyre and Sidon; overseas territories notably included Carthage (founded 814 BC), but they either took over or culturally dominated trading ports from Cyprus to Malta, Spain, Portugal and Sardinia. They traded in purple dye (“Tyrian Purple”), textiles, luxury ceramics, silver, tin (with England) and glass, explored down the west coast of Africa as far as the Gulf of Guinea, and may even have circumnavigated Africa in around 600 BC.It is astonishing that the simple beauty of this ewer is as appealing to modern sensibilities as it no doubt was to ancient ones. When the trading empire of the Phoenicians was at its height, such a vessel might have contained oil or wine. As we grip its elegant handle today, we recognize that our gestures echo those of its ancient owners. Though centuries have passed, what dreams and emotions might we share in common with those ancient lives? As our hands rest where theirs did, we are connected in an intimate way with their vanished world. - (PF.2218)   « Less

Since the dawn of time, man has sought power overtheanimalworld. The Neolithic Era was marked by the domesticationofanimalseither for food or labor. This fascinating seal,  More »

Since the dawn of time, man has sought power overtheanimalworld. The Neolithic Era was marked by the domesticationofanimalseither for food or labor. This fascinating seal, abstract andelegant,is shaped like a stylized animal’s head. It is engravedwiththeimage of a seated idol, perhaps a nature deity who caused the animals to flock and multiply. Discovered with a cacheofrelatedartifacts along the shores of Lake Van, it evokes the beginnings of Western culture as we know it. Its powerandbeautyaretimeless,touchingachorddeepintheimagination.-(D.0054)Sincethedawnoftime, man has sought power over the animal world. The Neolithic Erawas marked by the domestication of animals either for food or labor. This fascinating seal, abstract and elegant, isanimal’shead.Itis engraved with the image of a seated idol, perhapsanaturedeitywhocausedtheanimalstoflockandmultiply.Discoveredwithacacheofrelatedartifactsalongtheshoresof Lake Van,itevokesthebeginnings of Western culture as we know it. Itspowerandbeautyaretimeless,touchingachorddeepintheimagination.- (D.0054)   « Less

The Phoenicians were one of the most important civilisations of the ancient world, and flourished from around 1500 to 300 BC. Their world was centred on Northern Israel,  More »

The Phoenicians were one of the most important civilisations of the ancient world, and flourished from around 1500 to 300 BC. Their world was centred on Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria, while their sphere of conquest and influence extended throughout the Mediterranean and even beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the Straits of Gibraltar) and into the Mediterranean-Atlantic. Their power was due primarily to their mastery of seamanship – which they developed to a whole new level during their pre-eminence – and extremely well-organised administration which was strengthened by extensive use of the alphabet. Indeed, it was the Phoenicians who introduced the alphabet to the Greeks, who in turn passed it onto the rest of the Western World. They were essentially Canaanites, to whom they were identical in sociocultural and material terms, the only difference being the massive range over which their cultural remains and heritage can be found. Phoenician society was comparatively stable when compared to the changeable fortunes of other Eastern Mediterranean cultures, primarily due to its broad royal, political and religious foundations. The town of Byblos became a major hub for trade all over the Fertile Crescent, followed by Tyre and Sidon; overseas territories notably included Carthage (founded 814 BC), but they either took over or culturally dominated trading ports from Cyprus to Malta, Spain, Portugal and Sardinia. They traded in purple dye (“Tyrian Purple”), textiles, luxury ceramics, silver, tin (with England) and glass, explored down the west coast of Africa as far as the Gulf of Guinea, and may even have circumnavigated Africa in around 600 BC.It is astonishing that the simple beauty of this ewer is as appealing to modern sensibilities as it no doubt was to ancient ones. When the trading empire of the Phoenicians was at its height, such a vessel might have contained oil or wine. As we grip its elegant handle today, we recognize that our gestures echo those of its ancient owners. Though centuries have passed, what dreams and emotions might we share in common with those ancient lives? As our hands rest where theirs did, we are connected in an intimate way with their vanished world. - (PF.2219)   « Less

The Phoenicians were one of the most important civilisations of the ancient world, and flourished from around 1500 to 300 BC. Their world was centred on Northern Israel,  More »

The Phoenicians were one of the most important civilisations of the ancient world, and flourished from around 1500 to 300 BC. Their world was centred on Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria, while their sphere of conquest and influence extended throughout the Mediterranean and even beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the Straits of Gibraltar) and into the Mediterranean-Atlantic. Their power was due primarily to their mastery of seamanship – which they developed to a whole new level during their pre-eminence – and extremely well-organised administration which was strengthened by extensive use of the alphabet. Indeed, it was the Phoenicians who introduced the alphabet to the Greeks, who in turn passed it onto the rest of the Western World. They were essentially Canaanites, to whom they were identical in sociocultural and material terms, the only difference being the massive range over which their cultural remains and heritage can be found. Phoenician society was comparatively stable when compared to the changeable fortunes of other Eastern Mediterranean cultures, primarily due to its broad royal, political and religious foundations. The town of Byblos became a major hub for trade all over the Fertile Crescent, followed by Tyre and Sidon; overseas territories notably included Carthage (founded 814 BC), but they either took over or culturally dominated trading ports from Cyprus to Malta, Spain, Portugal and Sardinia. They traded in purple dye (“Tyrian Purple”), textiles, luxury ceramics, silver, tin (with England) and glass, explored down the west coast of Africa as far as the Gulf of Guinea, and may even have circumnavigated Africa in around 600 BC.It is astonishing that the simple beauty of this ewer is as appealing to modern sensibilities as it no doubt was to ancient ones. When the trading empire of the Phoenicians was at its height, such a vessel might have contained oil or wine. As we grip its elegant handle today, we recognize that our gestures echo those of its ancient owners. Though centuries have passed, what dreams and emotions might we share in common with those ancient lives? As our hands rest where theirs did, we are connected in an intimate way with their vanished world. - (PF.2220)   « Less

Originally an offering at the shrine of a powerful deity, this votive seal was discovered withacacheofrelatedartifactsalongtheshoresof Lake  More »

Originally an offering at the shrine of a powerful deity, this votive seal was discovered withacacheofrelatedartifactsalongtheshoresof Lake Van.Thecultmostlikelycenteredaroundanature god, one concerned with fertility and rebirth. Birds wereclearly important to this cult, perhaps being associated with the ideaof the soul. This is an extremelyfineexampleofearlyanimalsculpture. Depicting a stylized bird, its base bears the intaglio image of a bird. Pressed into soft wax or clay, it would have created multiple images to please the deity. Abstract and elegant yet closely observant of nature, this remarkable seal evokes a vanished world at the dawn of Western culture. -(D.0055)Votive Bird Seal with an Intaglio - D.005Origin: Lake Van,Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 2.125" (5.4cm) high x .625"(1.6cm) wide x 1" (2.5cm) depth Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite Condition: Repaired   « Less

Of mixed race and origin, the Phoenicians shared a linguistic, historical and cultural background. They emerged as an independent entity from the eastern Mediterranean region  More »

Of mixed race and origin, the Phoenicians shared a linguistic, historical and cultural background. They emerged as an independent entity from the eastern Mediterranean region around 1200 B.C., founding settlements in Italy, Rhodes, Crete, Cypress and North Africa. To their contemporaries the Phoenicians appeared both ingenious and treacherous. While one ancient historian condemned them for being "skilled in deceiving", others considered them "intelligent people...outstanding in literature and other arts." this stunning incense burner reveals their remarkable artistic talents. Carved from a dark gray diorite-type stone", the round body of the incense burner is grasped by a hand whose five sculpted fingers cling to the bowl with delicate finesse. Incised decorations around the outside perimeter of the bowl are repeated on the hand, adding an element of harmony and balance to the piece. In addition, the remains of ancient clay cling to the surface of the incense burner, igniting our imagination and sending us on an odyssey into the past, to a time when the dynamic Phoenicians held sway over a vast Mediterranean. - (PF.2628)   « Less

Thisancientvotivesealwasdiscoveredwithacacheofsimilarartifactsalongtheshoresof Lake Van.Evokingthedawnof  More »

Thisancientvotivesealwasdiscoveredwithacacheofsimilarartifactsalongtheshoresof Lake Van.Evokingthedawnof Westernculture,theseapparentlywereofferingsattheshrineofsomepowerfulgod.This unknown deity appears to have been associated with fertility and rebirth. The design that adorns them—of stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Pressed into soft clay or wax, they wouldhave created multiple images to win the favor of the god. Carved with an abstract simplicity but an observanteyetoward nature, the stark visual appeal of this piece is timeless Thesesealsrepresent dreams, hopes andaspirationsforhealth,success,andhappinessthatareasoldascivilizationitself.v-(D.0049)Engraved Votive Sealwithan Intaglio D.0049Origin:Lake Van,Anatolia Circa:4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 1.75" (4.4cm) high x 1" (2.5cm) wide x 75"(1.9cm) depth Collection: Near Eastern Style:Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

The Phoenicians were one of the most important civilisations of the ancient world, and flourished from around 1500 to 300 BC. Their world was centred on Northern Israel,  More »

The Phoenicians were one of the most important civilisations of the ancient world, and flourished from around 1500 to 300 BC. Their world was centred on Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria, while their sphere of conquest and influence extended throughout the Mediterranean and even beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the Straits of Gibraltar) and into the Mediterranean-Atlantic. Their power was due primarily to their mastery of seamanship – which they developed to a whole new level during their pre-eminence – and extremely well-organised administration which was strengthened by extensive use of the alphabet. Indeed, it was the Phoenicians who introduced the alphabet to the Greeks, who in turn passed it onto the rest of the Western World. They were essentially Canaanites, to whom they were identical in sociocultural and material terms, the only difference being the massive range over which their cultural remains and heritage can be found. Phoenician society was comparatively stable when compared to the changeable fortunes of other Eastern Mediterranean cultures, primarily due to its broad royal, political and religious foundations. The town of Byblos became a major hub for trade all over the Fertile Crescent, followed by Tyre and Sidon; overseas territories notably included Carthage (founded 814 BC), but they either took over or culturally dominated trading ports from Cyprus to Malta, Spain, Portugal and Sardinia. They traded in purple dye (“Tyrian Purple”), textiles, luxury ceramics, silver, tin (with England) and glass, explored down the west coast of Africa as far as the Gulf of Guinea, and may even have circumnavigated Africa in around 600 BC. - (PF.8046)   « 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 them—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:4000 BC to 3000 BC Dimensions: 1.75" (4.4cm) high x 1" (2.5cm) wide x 75"(1.9cm) depth Collection: Near Eastern Style:Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less