Sasanian Carnelian Stamp Seal with Pegasus Engraving
Sasanian Empire, c. 224–651 AD, Iran A beautiful and finely carved Sasanian stamp seal fashioned from vibrant red-orange carnelian. The ring-shaped seal features an engraved oval bezel depicting a graceful winged horse, most likely Pegasus, shown advancing to the right with elegantly outstretched wings. The seal is pierced horizontally through the centre, allowing it to be suspended from a cord or mounted as a personal ornament. Stamp seals formed an essential part of daily life throughout the Sasanian Empire, serving not only as personal signatures for authenticating documents and securing goods, but also as symbols of identity, status, and protection. Carnelian was especially prized for its rich colour, durability, and perceived protective qualities, making it one of the favoured gemstones for engraved seals. Mesopotamia is widely regarded as the birthplace of glyptic art, with the earliest cylinder seals appearing during the 4th millennium BC. Over the following millennia, successive civilizations refined the techniques and artistic conventions of seal engraving. Sasanian craftsmen inherited this long-established tradition, drawing inspiration from earlier Mesopotamian, Babylonian, and Assyrian prototypes while developing a distinctive artistic vocabulary of their own. One of the defining characteristics of Sasanian glyptic art was the depiction of single animals, mythical creatures, and human figures rendered in bold, elegant compositions that emphasised clarity and symbolic meaning. The winged horse represented on this seal was a powerful and auspicious image, embodying qualities of strength, nobility, speed, and divine protection. Whether interpreted as Pegasus or as a related mythological creature, such imagery reflects the rich symbolic repertoire that flourished within Sasanian art. A finely preserved and highly collectible example of Sasanian glyptic craftsmanship, this engraved carnelian seal beautifully illustrates the artistic refinement and enduring cultural traditions of one of the great empires of the ancient Near East. Good condition. Minor surface wear and small patches of encrustation are present, consistent with age. Size approx. 2,0cm x 1,1cm x 1,4cm. Provenance: From the collection of Harald Egon Stridh (b. 1935), Stockholm. Acquired through auction purchases in Sweden during the 1960s and 1970s. For a similar example see: Stamp seal, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 93.17.19 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/322161)