- Provenance
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From 1930s
Mr. and Mrs. James S. Moose, Jr., purchased in Iran in the 1930s. [1]Duncan M. Whittome, by gift or inheritance from her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James S. Moose, Jr. [2]
To 1993
Duncan M. Whittome, Revocable Trust. [3]From 1993
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Duncan M. Whittome, Revocable Trust. [4]Notes:
[1] Purchased in Iran by the parents of Duncan Whittome, Mr. and Mrs. James S. Moose, Jr., while in the Foreign Service during the 1930s.
[2] See note 1.
[3] Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920 file, Collections Management Office.
[4] See note 3.
- Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)
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Duncan M. Whittome
Duncan M. Whittome Revocable Trust
Ambassador and Mrs. James S. Moose Jr.
- Description
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Ellipsoid shaped stamp seal with a male bust motif. The male figure displays a pointed beard and a diadem. A pahlavi inscription runs from 8 o'clock to 4 o'clock.
- Inscription(s)
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Pahlavi inscription in field above head. Inscription translation: Reliance on the gods
- Label
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Stamp seals of the Sasanian period, often with abbreviated inscriptions, can particularly help us to understand belief systems, aspects of economy and administration in the Middle East between the third and 7th centuries and later. Seals were owned by officials, priests, wealthy property owners, but sometimes also by people from lower strata of the society. The portrait of a bearded man is a popular motif in Sasanian seals. While plenty of male portrait busts are known from impressions on sealings or bullae excavated at sites like Takht-e Sulaiman and Qasr Abu Nasr in Iran, it is doubtful whether there is any real portrait character intended, even when names are preserved.
- Published References
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- Antonietta Catanzariti. The Ancient Near East Seal Collection. Washington. .
- Collection Area(s)
- Ancient Near Eastern Art
- SI Usage Statement
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Usage Conditions Apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
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CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
Usage Conditions Apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
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International Image Interoperability Framework
FS-F1993.18.20_001