Byzantine or Islamic Bronze Seal Stamp

Includes glass top display box.

This seal stamp is of Byzantine or Islamic origin, and sports a geometric pattern that served as a unique identifying mark. A hardened clay impression of the design is included with the item, as pictured.

The history of seal stamps goes back thousands of years, to the cradle of civilization in Mesopotamia. The stamps were most often used as a type of signature on official documentation. They would be imprinted onto hot wax or clay in order to create an impression, which would be a unique mark of the owner. Seals were also used to mark the ownership of property, such as land or buildings, and acted as a way to authenticate legal documents.

This item was once part of a German collection belonging to Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), who acquired his massive collection of seals between 1985 and the 2000s from reputable dealers and old collections. Oberländer primarily specialized in early stamp and cylinder seals from the prehistoric and dynastic civilizations in the Middle East, including Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Bactria.

All purchases include a Certificate of Authenticity. You will receive the exact item in this photo, along with a glass top leatherette display box.