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Lentoid seal with a lion attacking a bull
Early Aegean, Helladic
Bronze Age, Late Helladic II Period
about 1635–1410 B.C.
Medium/Technique
Carnelian
Dimensions
Length: 24 mm (15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bartlett Collection—Museum purchase with funds from the Francis Bartlett Donation of 1912
Accession Number27.656
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAncient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsSeals
Catalogue Raisonné
Lewes House Gems, no. 002 (1920; 2002, additional published references).
DescriptionMottled, red carnelian. Lentoid seal engraved in intaglio; pierced vertically. Lion attacking a bull, both on back legs and facing one another. The lion's head is concealed by the bull's head. The lion's mane is edged by a shawl-like ridge that curls above the shoulder muscles. Both lion and bull have their tails between their legs, the lion's tail ending in a knob, the bull's in a lance-head finial. Surface of seal is cloudy and scratched.
ProvenanceBy date unknown: Professor R. D. Norton collection; purchased by Edward Perry Warren from Professor R. D. Norton in 1900 (according to J. D. Beazley, The Lewes House Collection of Ancient Gems, no. 2); April 5, 1926: loaned to MFA by Edward Perry Warren (as 54.26); November 17, 1927: purchased by MFA from Edward Perry Warren for $ 161,000.00 (this figure is the total price for MFA 27.647-27.761)