Description A SASANIAN AGATE EYE INTAGLIO SEALSasanian, Ancient Persia /Iran, c. 3rd-5th century. The flattened-oval seal with an engraved depiction of a lion. In beautiful color of dark-chocolate with milky-white inclusions. Central transversal drilled hole for suspension.Condition: Good condition commensurate with age, with usual traces of wear and age as well as few old notches. Provenance: La Balaustra, Archeologia Classica Orientale e Precolombiana, Bologna, 1988, a copy of the authentication certificate, accompanies this lot. Estate of Paolo Bertuzzi, acquired from the above. Paolo Bertuzzi (1943-2022) was an engineer and fashion stylist from Bologna, Italy. Born as the son of Enrichetta Bertuzzi, the founder of Hettabretz, one of the most important leather merchants in Italy which crafted womenswear for royals and celebrities including The Rothschild family, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Paolo Bertuzzi later took over his mother's business and created exclusive pieces, some of which were exhibited in the Costume Institute at Metropolitan Museum of New York. He was also an avid collector of antiques for more than 60 years. His collection includes archaic and contemporary art, focusing mainly on Asian ancient pieces. Over decades he developed close relations with galleries, museums, curators, and auction houses while shaping his collection. He edited two books on Asian art, Goa Made. An Archaeological Discovery, about large-scale archaeological project carried out together with the Italian and Indonesian governments, and Majapahit, Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom.Weight: 4.96 gDimensions: Diameter 2.2 cm