A BLACK STONE SCEPTRE FROM THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE, 5TH CENTURY BC A BLACK STONE SCEPTRE FROM THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE, 5TH CENTURY BC A BLACK STONE SCEPTRE FROM THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE, 5TH CENTURY BC A BLACK STONE SCEPTRE FROM THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE, 5TH CENTURY BC A BLACK STONE SCEPTRE FROM THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE, 5TH CENTURY BC A BLACK STONE SCEPTRE FROM THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE, 5TH CENTURY BC

A BLACK STONE SCEPTRE FROM THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE, 5TH CENTURY BC

Reference: ART3005160

An Achaemenid basalt cylindrical sceptre with a lion's head finial spouting a lotus flower from its mouth. The shaft of the sceptre is grooved and expands to a rounded base which itself is divided into segments. At the top of the lotus flower the base is mirrored and is pierced by a deep hole which must have held a lotus flower, probably in silver or gold. The reliefs at Persepolis show such scepters in the hands of the Great King and some of his attendant courtiers. It is an object of the highest quality and historical importance. Black basalt, Achaemenid 5th century BC.
Length: 17.5 cm.
Width: 3.5 cm.

PROVENANCE
From a European collection since the 1980's.