Bidspirit auction | Rare and Exquisite Gilded Seal

Rare and Exquisite Gilded Seal with Bone Handle – Jerusalem, 18th–19th Centuries - A unique and distinguished seal, featuring a green stone set within a gilded frame delicately engraved and chased with floral motifs. The workmanship is precise, refined, and elegant. At the center of the stone is a deeply engraved ancient geometric symbol – the “Jerusalem Cross”, and beneath it is inscribed the word “Jerusalem” in Hebrew letters. This form, known from early Jerusalem art and architecture, carries deep spiritual and cultural meaning, symbolizing the unity of creation, the centrality of Jerusalem, and the radiance of its light to the four corners of the world. For centuries it has served as a visual expression of the connection between heaven and earth, the sacred and the material, humanity and the divine—a meeting point of spirit and substance. The handle is crafted from carved bone, shaped by hand in soft, elegant lines, and joined to the seal with delicate metalwork. The combination of the green stone, gilded frame, and bone creates a harmonious impression of purity, nature, and splendor. The seal is housed in its original custom-made wooden case, lined with purple velvet and satin fabric, attesting to its significance and to the high status of its owner—apparently a person of noble standing or distinguished position residing in Jerusalem during that period. Provenance: Sotheby’s Tel Aviv auction, October 11, 2001, lot no. 117. Total height (including handle): approx. 10.5 cm | Seal face: 1.5 × 1.3 cm Case dimensions: 13 × 6 × 4 cm Condition: Very good. This rare and elegant gilded seal combines art, spirituality, and Jerusalem history, serving as a vivid testament to the city’s enduring allure and its role as a center of inspiration, holiness, and creativity—where even stone and gold carry meaning beyond the material.