Seal amulet in the form of a recumbent fox
Unknown Artist
ca. 3500–2900 BCE
Medium
Marble, cream with red veins (?)
Dimensions
Seal Face: 3.59 x 2.42 cm Fox: same Height: 1.82 cm String Hole: 3.0 cm
Classification
Stone-Stamp Seals
Period
Late Uruk–Jemdet Nasr
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Martin and Sarah Cherkasky, 1987
Accession Number
1987.96.15
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite seal amulet, carved in the shape of a recumbent fox dates to the Late Ur–Jemdet Nasr period (ca. 3500–2900 BCE), a pivotal era in ancient Mesopotamian history. Emerging from the cradle of urbanization in southern Iraq, this tiny marble artifact—measuring just 3.59 x 2.42 cm on its seal face and 1.82 cm high—reflects the ingenuity of early Near Eastern craftsmen. The cream-colored stone, veined with red, was likely chosen for its striking visual appeal, and a 3 cm string hole suggests it doubled as a wearable amulet, perhaps for personal protection or status. As a stone-stamp se...