Cleveland Museum of Art

Seal with Unicorn and Inscription

Date: c. 2000 BCE
Medium: steatite
Culture: Pakistan, Indus Valley civilization
Department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Institution: Cleveland Museum of Art
Object ID: 147417

From the Cleveland Museum of Art record

Indus Valley seals appear to have been hung on a string that passed through a boss on the reverse side. This animal, carved with detailed markings around his neck and forequarters, has his head positioned over an object on a stand that may be interpreted as an altar or brazier or censer; it is not known whether it is for offerings to or sacrifice of the animal. Specialists disagree as to whether single-horned bovines actually lived during the time of the Indus Valley Civilization, four thousand years ago.

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Provenance & credit

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Credit line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Provenance: ?–1973: (William H. Wolff [1906–1991], New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) | 1973–: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Part of a LinkedCulture topic

Ancient Egyptian Personal Objects
These objects are cosmetic implements and grooming tools from ancient Egypt, including mirrors, palettes for grinding pigments, and decorative knives, representing daily life and personal adornment practices.
476 objects from 5 institutions