5th-4th century BC. A plano-convex stamp seal accompanied by a museum-quality impression and a typed and signed scholarly note issued by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp seal of translucent chalcedony. This is a scaraboid, pierced lengthways. The design on the slightly convex face shows two recumbent horned animals, with both hind paws and one front paw under the body, one front paw extended. In the sky above them is a bird with raised wings. This is a Greco-Persian gem, c.450-350 B.C., from some part of the Achaemenid Persian empire. The design is achieved largely with the drill, which is used with great skill. The seal is mostly in fine condition, only the edges in front of the first animal and above it are chipped'. 9 grams, 25mm (1"). From the Empire collection, an important UK private collection of seals, acquired between 1980-1983; accompanied by a copy of a typed and signed scholarly note, by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10152-167591.