A very fine Kushan carnelian intaglio. Portrait of a ruler.

1st - early 3rd century A.D.

12 x 16 x 3,5 mm.

The young ruler (or prince?) is facing left. He is characterized by hair held by a tenia with curls on the forehead and a slight barbula. Bust covered with a cloak and chlamys. It is closely related to roman gems of the same period. The discussion of the series is to be found inter alia in Callieri, P. Seals and Sealings from the North-West of the Indian Subcontinent and Afghanistan, (4th century B.C. - 11th century A.D.); Local, Indian, Sasanian, Graeco-Persian, Sogdian, Roman. Naples 1997. pp. 259 - 265, pls. 57-64. Parallel: Rahman, A.U. and Falk, H. Seals, Sealings and Tokens from Gandhara. Wiesbaden, 2011. p. 32, no. 01.01.05

Provenance: UK private collection D.C.

Estimate: GBP 2000 - 4000