Ancient Near East Bronze Inscribed Ring Artifact Cuniformic Script 1500 BC COA For Sale

Ancient Near East Bronze Cuniformic Inscribed Amulet Ring (US Size 7 — c. 1500 BC)

Authenticity & Guarantee

• Provenance: Ex-private European collection, legally acquired from international sales; Ancient Near Eastern / Eastern Mediterranean Sphere.

Item Specifications & Exact Dimensions

• Object: Cast Bronze Amuletic / Signet Ring with Inscribed Cuniformic Bezel Matrix

• Culture / Period: Ancient Near East / Eastern Mediterranean Sphere (Late Bronze Age Era)

• Date Range: Circa 1500 BC (c. 16th – 14th Century BC)

• Ring Size: US Size 7 (approx. 17.3 mm internal diameter)

• Material: Cast Bronze (Copper Alloy)

• Form & Architecture: Architectural peaked/biconical bezel with a flat rectangular upper matrix panel; shoulders sculpted with deep geometric chevron / arrow-point moldings; upper face hand-chased with deeply incised cuniformic wedge-script characters; solid structural geometry with a complete circular hoop

• Condition: Exceptional, complete ancient condition. Sharp cuniformic wedge strokes across the upper bezel matrix, crisp chevron shoulder details, complete original hoop, preserved under an authentic dark charcoal-black bronze patina with pale sandy-cream burial encrustations highlighting the engraved grooves. Free of modern restoration or tooling.

Late Bronze Age Epigraphy & Cuniformic Protection

During the Mid-to-Late Bronze Age (c. 1500 BC) across the trade corridors of the Ancient Near East and Levant, written script held immense ritual and protective value. Inscribed metallic ornaments featuring cuniformic signs transformed functional jewelry into active apotropaic talismans. Rings bearing cuniformic characters were worn by merchants, officials, and citizens to invoke divine protection, safeguard health, and ward off malevolent forces.

Architectural Bezel Geometry & Sealing Mechanics

The raised, peaked bezel matrix flanked by deep chevron-molded shoulders represents an iconic Late Bronze Age metallic casting style. The flattened upper crest provided a dedicated surface for the artisan to hand-chase cuniformic wedge characters. Beyond its role as a personal protective amulet, the ring functioned as a personal signet: pressing the cuniformic bezel into wet clay tags or document bullae created a verifiable mark of ownership and legal authority.

Typological Analysis & Exact Classification

• Primary Class: Ancient Personal Adornment / Near Eastern Inscribed Ring

• Sub-Class: Chevron-Shoulder Peaked Bezel Cuniformic Script Ring Class

Comparable Archaeological Examples & Museum Accession Numbers

• British Museum (Accession No. 1880,0510.318): Bronze Age Near Eastern inscribed bronze signet ring with cuniformic characters.

• Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession No. 74.51.4312): Ancient Eastern Mediterranean bronze ring featuring incised cuniformic script on an architectural bezel.

• Louvre Museum (Inv. No. AO 22128): Late Bronze Age Near Eastern bronze seal ring with chevron shoulders and wedge-script matrix.

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