The stamp seal (also impression seal) is a common seal die, frequently carved from stone, known at least since the 6th millennium BC (Halaf culture[1]) and probably earlier. The dies were used to impress their picture or inscription into soft, prepared clay and sometimes in sealing wax.
A stamp seal and its impression. The impression rotated clockwise 90 degrees probably yields a version of the Tree of Life-(see Urartian art photos).
The oldest stamp seals were button-shaped objects with primitive ornamental forms chiseled onto them.[2] The stamp seals were replaced in the 4th millennium BC by cylinder seals that had to be rolled over the soft clay to leave an imprint.[1] From the 12th century BC the previous designs were largely abandoned in favor of amphora stamps.[3]Romans introduced their signaculum around the first century BC;[3]Byzantine maintained the tradition in their commercial stamps.[4]
In antiquity the stamp seals were common, largely because they served to authenticate legal documents, such as tax receipts, contracts, wills and decrees. They are extensively researched because[citation needed] they were usually carved with important "themes" of the society that produced them, rather than with an ordinary signature.[citation needed]
Indus stamp-sealedit
Indus seal, (with modern impression); from ca. mid- to late-3rd millennium BC.(?)
Different from the Minoan stamp-seals, the Indus stamp-seals probably have a different function from the stamp seals of the Minoan civilization, as they typically have script characters, with still undeciphered associations.
Garbini. Landmarks of the World's Art, The Ancient World, by Giovanni Garbini, (McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, Toronto), General Eds, Bernard S. Myers, New York, Trewin Copplestone, London, c 1966. Numerous examples of the Cylinder seal; ( 3 ) separate Discussions (only) of "Stamp sealing". No seals, or impressions thereof.
Yule, Paul (1981). Early Cretan seals: a study of chronology (Marburger Studien zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte, Bd. 4). Mainz: NN. doi:10.11588/diglit.3044.
Di Palma, Salvatore (2015). The History of Marks from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. Société des écrivains.
Brown, Brian A.; Feldman, Marian H. (2013). Critical Approaches to Ancient Near Eastern Art. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN9781614510352.
Vikan, Gary (1991-01-01). "Stamps, Commercial". The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195046526.001.0001. ISBN978-0-19-504652-6.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stamp seals of archaeology.
Detail of Stamp seal-Medium Res;
Article mcclungmuseum.utk.edu—Jar, and associated Stamp Seal
stamp, seal, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december, 2011, learn, when, remove, this, message, stamp, seal, . This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2011 Learn how and when to remove this message The stamp seal also impression seal is a common seal die frequently carved from stone known at least since the 6th millennium BC Halaf culture 1 and probably earlier The dies were used to impress their picture or inscription into soft prepared clay and sometimes in sealing wax A stamp seal and its impression The impression rotated clockwise 90 degrees probably yields a version of the Tree of Life see Urartian art photos The oldest stamp seals were button shaped objects with primitive ornamental forms chiseled onto them 2 The stamp seals were replaced in the 4th millennium BC by cylinder seals that had to be rolled over the soft clay to leave an imprint 1 From the 12th century BC the previous designs were largely abandoned in favor of amphora stamps 3 Romans introduced their signaculum around the first century BC 3 Byzantine maintained the tradition in their commercial stamps 4 In antiquity the stamp seals were common largely because they served to authenticate legal documents such as tax receipts contracts wills and decrees They are extensively researched because citation needed they were usually carved with important themes of the society that produced them rather than with an ordinary signature citation needed Indus stamp seal edit nbsp Indus seal with modern impression from ca mid to late 3rd millennium BC Different from the Minoan stamp seals the Indus stamp seals probably have a different function from the stamp seals of the Minoan civilization as they typically have script characters with still undeciphered associations Gallery edit nbsp Stamp seal of an Egyptian named Meru the Answerer of Horus Brooklyn Museum nbsp Stamp seals bottom row cylinder seals top row nbsp Signaculum PRIMIT first nbsp An impression of a cast copper alloy seal matrix of medieval date 14th century AD See also editAncient Near Eastern seals and sealing practices Bulla seal Indus script LMLK seals from Lachish ca 700 BCE Scaraboid sealReferences edit a b Brown amp Feldman 2013 p 304 Di Palma 2015 p 21 a b Di Palma 2015 p 24 Vikan 1991 Sources editGarbini Landmarks of the World s Art The Ancient World by Giovanni Garbini McGraw Hill Book Company New York Toronto General Eds Bernard S Myers New York Trewin Copplestone London c 1966 Numerous examples of the Cylinder seal 3 separate Discussions only of Stamp sealing No seals or impressions thereof Yule Paul 1981 Early Cretan seals a study of chronology Marburger Studien zur Vor und Fruhgeschichte Bd 4 Mainz NN doi 10 11588 diglit 3044 Di Palma Salvatore 2015 The History of Marks from Antiquity to the Middle Ages Societe des ecrivains Brown Brian A Feldman Marian H 2013 Critical Approaches to Ancient Near Eastern Art Walter de Gruyter ISBN 9781614510352 Vikan Gary 1991 01 01 Stamps Commercial The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 acref 9780195046526 001 0001 ISBN 978 0 19 504652 6 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stamp seals of archaeology Detail of Stamp seal Medium Res Article mcclungmuseum utk edu Jar and associated Stamp Seal Gazelle Head Stamp seal at the Oriental Institute of Chicago Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stamp seal amp oldid 1207133528, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
