Lot 41: A HARD STONE AMULET OR SEAL DEPICTS A MENORAH, PERSIAN PERIOD, 400 - 300 B.C

The object is carved from a dark brown and grey mottled hardstone, possibly bituminous limestone. The obverse features an intaglio carving depicting a central seven-branched menorah, flanked by traditional ritual objects, likely a shofar to the left and a lulav to the right. Above the menorah is a representation of a Torah shrine, or Aron Kodesh, with a gabled roof. The reverse features a three-line incised inscription in an ancient Northwest Semitic script, likely Paleo-Hebrew or a regional Aramaic variant. 

H: 3.5cm