Bullae

Object Details

• Label

  Clay lumps with impressions, so called bullae, often circular in shape, atre typically impressed with several, sometimes many seals. They were used to mark ownership of the objects they were originally attached to. Carrying the impressions of a number of seals the bullae are most valuable objects today in providing insights into the iconographic repertoire of ancient societies. While very few clay bullae have been found in the Mediterranean or Egypt, plenty of clay bullae have been excavated in administrative contexts and tombs in the Middle East and more recently, Central Asia.

• Provenance

  From at least 1916 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), acquired by at least 1916 [1]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See Reserved Pottery List, R. 6527, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. According to Accession List, Collections Management office, there are no purchase details recorded for this object.

  [2] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Mediterranean

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Tool and Equipment

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  Mediterranean

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Hellenistic period (323 - 30 BCE), Seal, Ceramics

• Culture

  Middle Easterners

• Object Type

  Tools and equipment