Stamp seal
Unknown Artist
ca. 3rd–7th century CE
Medium
Calcite, gray
Dimensions
0.39 x 0.55 x 0.47 in. (0.99 x 1.4 x 1.19 cm)
Classification
Stone-Stamp Seals
Culture & Period
Sasanian · Sasanian
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, 1893
Accession Number
93.17.25
Art Historical Context
This petite stamp seal, crafted from gray calcite during the Sasanian period (ca. 3rd–7th century CE), offers a glimpse into the sophisticated administrative world of ancient Persia. Belonging to the Sasanian of the Iranian plateau, these seals were essential tools for—pressed into soft clay to mark documents, goods, or containers, much like a personal signature today. Measuring just 0.39 x0.55 x .47 inches, itsutive size belies its importance in daily bureaucracy and trade across the vast Sasanian Empire, whiched Rome in power and artistry. Carved from calcite, a relatively soft yet durable ...