Lot de dix-sept sceaux

Ottoman Empire and Iran, 18th and 19th century One in carnelian, the others in metal or silver, engraved in negative with inscriptions in nasta'liq or naskh. Two are figurative (crowned face and bird), three are in tugra, three combine the Arabic and Cyrillic alphabets. Some are dated. Metal and silver mounts. We join there: a Turkish medallion in gilded metal, and two mounts of seal. Dim. 1 to 2 cm. Provenance: Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Ch. Graeff, French ambassador, (1923-2022). The seals - which served as a personal signature, and were applied on wax, clay and paper - have a long tradition in the Near East. They were usually carved in semi-precious stones, especially carnelian, but examples in metal have also been preserved. These stones were associated with magical or talismanic properties. Seal stones were most often set in rings.