Masterfully carved from finely banded agate, this charming stamp seal depicts a recumbent duck, its long neck gracefully folded across its back and its head tucked into its plumage, in a natural sleeping pose. The sculptor skillfully exploited the contrasting bands of the agate to enhance the bird's elegant form, while carefully incised details define the eye, elongated bill, and layered feathers. Animal-shaped stamp seals of this quality were prized throughout the Neo-Assyrian period, combining artistic refinement with practical administrative use. The flat oval base is engraved with the image of a winged apkallu, the protective genius that appears throughout Neo-Assyrian royal art. The figure strides forward with outstretched wings, carrying a long staff and wearing a crosshatched kilt. Apkallu were supernatural guardian beings associated with wisdom, purification, and divine protection. Frequently depicted in the reliefs of the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud and other Assyrian royal palaces, they were believed to safeguard both the king and the cosmic order. The seal has been pierced longitudinally for suspension and would have served as both a personal ornament and an administrative device for impressing ownership or authority into clay. The seal has been elegantly mounted as a pendant on a modern 18K yellow gold chain, allowing it to be worn while fully preserving its ancient character. Medium: Agate, mounted on a modern 18K yellow gold chainDimensions: Length: 5/8 inch (1.5 cm). Chain adjustable to 18 inches.Condition: The seal is intact and in excellent condition overall.Provenance: Henry Anavian collection acquired in the 1980s, thence by descent to family.
