Steatite lentoid seal
Unknown Artist
ca. early 7th century BCE
Medium
Steatite, pale yellow
Dimensions
11/16 × 11/16 in. (1.8 × 1.8 cm)
Classification
Gems
Culture & Period
Greek, Melian · Orientalizing
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1942
Accession Number
42.11.6
Tags
About this artwork
This gems from Greek, Melian, Orientalizing, dating to ca. early 7th century BCE, provides valuable insight into the artistic practices and material culture of its era. Classical Greek and Roman art established foundational principles of Western visual culture, emphasizing idealized forms, naturalistic representation, and harmonious proportions. Created in steatite, pale yellow, this work embodies the material practices and technical knowledge of its era. Artists' choices of materials reflected ...