Restrung group of tabular lozenge beads, spherical and other spacer beads. 88 grams, 85.5 cm



Acquired in London, 1974. Ex K.M., London, UK. with Gorny and Mosch, Auction 252, 13 December 2017, no.357. with Gorny and Mosch, Auction 256, 26 June 2018, no.273. Private collection, London, UK.

Restrung group of tabular, fusiform and other carnelian beads with granulated tubular gold collar spacers between. 45.5 grams, 55 cm



From the collection of a late Japanese gentleman, 1970s onwards.

Restrung group of oval and other agate beads with interstitial spherical gold beads with granule clusters. 96.6 grams, 52.5 cm



From the collection of a late Japanese gentleman, 1970s onwards.

An elbow bead with an ellipsoid cap to each finial. 1.26 grams, 19 mm



From the collection of a late Japanese gentleman, 1970s onwards.

Dipping bowl, raised from a single sheet of silver, decorated with an incised rosette to the underside with central omphalos; rolled and everted rim; inner face with repoussé rosette, each petal with a stylised beast reserved on a pounced field; later applied central rosette with acanthus border, tondo with repoussé wyvern rampant. 134 grams, 15.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12978-244536.

Comprising a tapering sidewall with carination and convex underside, trumpet-shaped foot with beaded rim; D-shaped thumb-pad to the rim with narrow chamfered handle and spur beneath; frieze of fronds reserved against a pounced field. 67.7 grams, 86 mm



Old Belgian private collection, 1970s. Acquired on the Brussels art market, 2008. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12908-242700.

Footed silver cups with ring handles were well known in Central Asia and were common in Sogdian silverwork of the 7th – 8th century A.D. The low beaded foot and the ring handle with lobed thumb rest are well documented in Sogdian silver attributed to the same period. The plant and floral decoration finds parallel with a silver bowl from Xijao (Marshak, 1999, fig.6), which shows the same low beaded foot of our cup. This decoration is also visible on a vessel from the Malaya Perescepina treasure, sent by the Emperor Heraclius to the Bulgarian Khan Kuvrat. Heraclius took it together with other precious objects as war booty after defeating the Sasanians in 627-628 A.D.

Carved in the round with integral rectangular base; of sturdy build with thick shoulders, rump and legs; latticed hair texture to the brow. 1.14 kg, 14 cm wide



Mrs Janssens, Belgium, 1970s. Private collection, London, UK. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate, no.S000119291. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12980-245246.

In Sabaean religion, the bull signalled strength, fertility, and divine protection, and is often linked by scholarship with the moon-god Almaqah, the principal deity of the kingdom. Small alabaster figures of this type were likely set up as temple offerings or served as fittings within cultic furnishings; flat undersides or discreet mounting points on some examples suggest attachment to a larger ensemble.

Of conical profile with flat base and crimped band to the rim; fourteen lines of writing to the inner face in a practised scribal hand; to the centre a free-hand linear motif; extensive Aramaic text for ' Dukhtanšah daughter of Gušnoi' with four separate biblical quotations (Numbers 9:23; Zachariah 3:2; Psalms 55:8; Psalms 91:7-8); textual translation by Shaul Shaked, 1933-2021, Emeritus Professor of Iranian Studies, Religious Studies, Aramaic and Magic in Late Antiquity (The Hebrew University, Jerusalem) comprising: 'which I, Dukhtanšah daughter of Gušnoi, and I drive out the great ...... and tigers are placed upright on my head, and malicious pebble-stones are placed on my chest, and at their knees are sealed heaven and earth, fire, water, moon, stars, zodiac signs, sparks, air, demons, dēvs, accidents, no-good-ones, satans, danahiš, male idols and female goddesses. Again. I seal and double-seal, I, Dukhtanšah daughter of Gušnoi, by these three magic words with which they speak and listen, for the great hammer of splendour and the great axe of the beginning and the scourge of 360 pure pebble-spirits. Amen, Amen, Selah. “At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed” (Numbers 9:23). “And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan, even the Lord that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you. Is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?” (Zachariah 3:2). Again. I seal and double-seal, I, Dukhtanšah daughter of Gušnoi, by my ten fingers, by the twenty small (fingers) of my hand, by the muscles of my hand, by the chain and the coat of mail, and by the signet-ring of King Solomon son of David, from Ashmedai and from his whole division, from Ṭisi Ipidan and from all their chariot, from Aninhada and from all ..., from Agrat bat MaÎlat and from all their chariots, from DanaÎiš and from all his family, from Zakkaya and the pebble-spirits and from all his family, from the troops of the demon DanaÎiš, the one who goes in through the shoe-laces of people, sits in the heart and crushes the wound ... so that .... not, ... and he sits and officiates ... her stature. By the name of ... by the name of Îyyš yh hh, By the name of Yahu Yahu, by the name of Sabaot Sabaot, by the name of El Shaddai ... demons, plagues, satans, Danahiš and his troops ... and afflictions and no-good-ones and male idols and female goddesses and ... evil ones, that you may not come near Dukhtanšah daughter of Gušnoi. Not you, Ashmedai, and not the whole of ... and not you, Ipidan, and not all your chariot; ... not you, Agrat bat MaÎlat, and not all your chariot, not you, DanaÎiš, and not the whole of your camp; not you, Zakkaya and pebble-spirit, and not the whole of your camp; ... from this day and for ever. Amen, Amen, Selah. ... “Lo, I would wander far off and would remain in the wilderness, Selah” (Psalms 55:8). “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but you it shall not touch” (Psalms 91:7). Firm and well-established.' 1.36 kg, 27 cm wide



Previously from a family collection before 1988. From a gentleman's private collection, housed in London, UK, 1990-2000s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12981-246347.

A very important piece shedding much light on the history of biblical texts.

In iridescent glass with squat body and hexagonal-section mouth; dragged trail detailing. 36 grams, 83 mm



Ex collection M.W.A., Germany. Acquired in 1996. Private collection, Switzerland, by descent.

With a carinated sidewall, rolled and everted rim, shallow foot; partial lustre-glaze to the surface with four trapezoidal panels: two with a reserved regardant bird and two with a tracery motif. 498 grams, 18.5 cm



Private collection, Japan, acquired prior to 1982. Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12724-235155.

With biconical profile and flared foot, cable-twist strap handle, applied raised band to the shoulder and neck; discoid feline head with filler hole and spout, inset turquoise-coloured scaphoid eyes. 739 grams, 19.7 cm



UK collection, 1990s. Acquired on the UK art market, before 2000. Private collection, Mr M.V., a London-based businessman.

Biconvex body with spout formed as an animal-head, filler to the rear with crimped rim and ribbed loop between; traces of painted design. 1.32 kg, 24.7 cm



UK collection, 1990s. Acquired on the UK art market, before 2000. Private collection, Mr M.V., a London-based businessman.