Stamp seal
Unknown Artist
ca. 17th–16th century BCE
Medium
Hematite
Dimensions
H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm); Diam. 1 in. (2.6 cm)
Classification
Stone-Stamp Seals
Culture & Period
Hittite · Hittite Old Kingdom
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in memory of Charles Dikran and Beatrice Kelekian, 1999
Accession Number
1999.325.203
Tags
About this artwork
This stone-stamp seals from Hittite, Hittite Old Kingdom, Anatolia, dating to ca. 17th–16th century BCE, provides valuable insight into the artistic practices and material culture of its era. Created in hematite, this work embodies the material practices and technical knowledge of its era. Artists' choices of materials reflected both practical availability and symbolic associations, with different media carrying distinct cultural meanings and artistic possibilities. Understanding historical tech...