This unusually large seal was carved from carnelian stone for the use of an important official to the Sassanian court. His portrait is depicted, along with an inscription in Pahlavi that offers us both his name and post: "Vehdin-Shapur, chief store-keeper of Iran." As noted by the British Museum, the elaborate headdress indicates his high rank; experts at the museum also date the seal as carved during the reign of Yazdagird II (438-57 CE).¹

Certain elements of this headdress resembles the crowns worn by rulers portrayed on coins minted by the Hephthalites, including the repeated crescent moon-like pattern around the rim of the crown and the tassels dangling from the rear. In fact, Hephthalite tendency to elongate the heads of their rulers in coin portraiture may very well result from an inexpert attempt to imitate the tall Sassanian headdress.

(1) See the British Museum web page dedicated to this object.