Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Figure with upraised arms beside bird on pole(?)

between 2900 B.C. and 2400 B.C.
black serpentine ;
Morgan Seal 1089
Description
1 cylinder seal : black serpentine ; 18 x 8.5 mm
Provenance
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes
"If the inference that the bird is on a pole is correct,the motif suggests a relation with Isin-Larsa designs (303). On the other hand, the posture of the figure shown in frontal view with both hands raised is non-Mesopotamian. The same motif occurs in 1093, a seal assigned to the Syrian orbit (p. 155). This may suggest that 1089 is of similar origin."--Porada, CANES, p. 154
Summary
Figure with upraised arms beside bird on pole(?) -- Kneeling human-headed bull(?) -- In upper field: crescent, scorpion.
Classification
Department