Lot 275A

Sassanian Black Stone Cylinder Seal - Animal Rows

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Lot 275
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Sassanian Black Stone Cylinder Seal - Animal Rows
Sassanian Black Stone Cylinder Seal - Animal Rows
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Sassanian Black Stone Cylinder Seal - Animal Rows

Estimate: $700 - $1,050

Starting Bid: $300

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
June 25, 2026 9:00 AM MDT (In Progress)
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Ancient Near East, Sassanian Empire, ca. 3rd to 7th century CE. A hypnotic rhythm of line and form spirals around this Sassanian black stone cylinder seal, where tightly ordered rows of stylized animals and arcane motifs march in near-perfect symmetry. Rolled out in clay, the design blooms into a neatly gridded field of sinuous bodies and curling limbs, the figures alternating with vertical registers that divide the whole into framed columns. Each beast - abstracted yet animate - twists and loops in a calligraphic dance, their long necks, haunches, and tails forming a visual script of motion. The cylinder itself is drilled through the center for suspension, its glossy black surface burnished smooth by age and handling. Size: 0.5" Diameter x 0.875" H (1.3 cm x 2.2 cm)

The Sassanian Empire, heir to the Achaemenid and Parthian traditions, prized such seals not just for securing documents or goods but as tokens of prestige, identity, and cosmic order. This piece, with its measured cadence and zoomorphic mystery, speaks to that same layered world of image and meaning.

Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005

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Item # 194374

  • Condition: Good. Light surface wear, but, otherwise, intact, wearable, and in excellent overall condition with great preservation of imagery.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000