Shallow hollow-formed bowl with flat rim, fluted exterior, trumpet-shaped foot. 340 grams, 15 cm wide

H. Soudavar, Paris, France.
Acquired Christie's circa 1996.
Ex central London gallery.

See Harper, P.O. & Meyers, P., Silver Vessels of the Sasanian Period, New York, 1981, for discussion.

Carved in the round and given a slender, biconical form; polished; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 9.1 kg total, 80 cm high including stand

with Gallery Rosen Ancient Art, Tel Aviv, 1969.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11872-206905.

Cf. Christie's, New York, 8th June 2007, lot 59; and 5th June 2014, lot 51; and London, 6th July 2022, lot 55.

The majority displaying standing figures in repoussé to both faces of a lozenge-shaped body; five formed as naked male figures with hands clasped in front of the waist; a single bead formed as a full-bodied figure wearing a headdress, one hand held over the pubic region, which is pierced; sheet-gold over bituminous cores; from a ritual headdress; most complete. 78.32 grams total, 34-43 mm

Acquired 1970s onwards.
Private collection of Michael O'Hara, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Ex private collection of Benjamin Hyde-Smith, Hertfordshire, UK.

Cf. grave II of Tillya-Tepe, in Cambon, P., (ed.), Hidden Afghanistan, Amsterdam, 2007, no.75 p.177, for technique used for the two gold musician figures.

Although the Buddha himself never visited Gandhara, with the passage of time the area became a veritable holy land for his followers. Mahayanism – a liberal and progressive school of Buddhism – flourished in Gandhara and laid emphasis among other things, on the transformation of the Buddha into a great mythological, almost eternal, god, and on the deification of future Buddhas as holding providences. In the visual arts, Buddha was permitted for the first time to be represented in human form.

Over three-hundred beads of different types, including decorative examples. 14.12 grams total, 1-6 mm

From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

Each comprising a single gold bar, drawn on both ends to form two wide sections and a length of wire; looped to form a central double bar; the wire coiled around itself to complete the bracelet. 57.21 grams total, 73 mm each

Acquired on the London art market in the 1980s.
Ex Ward collection, UK.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11874-200695.

Triangular in profile with suspension hole at the apex, underside with ropework border interrupted by a recumbent stag with large antlers facing a palm tree. 308 grams total, 10.2 cm wide including stand

From the private collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK, 1969-1999; thence by descent.

Cf. similar in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum under accession no.75.55.11.

The oval head displaying a repoussé scene composed of a winged 'Master of Animals' figure standing at centre holding an animal in each outstretched hand; tapering round-section stem with collars towards the upper body; tip of pin stem absent; accompanied by a custom-made backing board. 134 grams total, 32 cm including stand

Ex London, UK, gallery, 1980s.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession number 39.96.3, for a similar type.

Restrung designer necklace with a modern clasp; composed mainly of polished and graduated agate beads, together with central oval pendant bead and gold beads. 63 grams, 41 cm long

Collected from 1979-1999.
From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.

Of squat globular form with broad everted rim and rounded base; series of circular recesses to interior base. 3.47 kg, 17.5 cm wide

Acquired from an American collector in Europe, 2002.
European collection.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11875-206527.

Comprising four graduated weights based on the shekel; at least one example with incised markings. 45.3 grams total, 16-26 mm

Collected from 1969-1999.
From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.

See Hendin nos W9-16.

Displaying a repoussé horned animal advancing right, two roundels composed of bulbous rivets flanking the animal and encircling the central design; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 626 grams total, 28.5 cm high including stand

Collection of Jacques and Henriette Schumann, formed between 1950 and 1970.
The Schumanns inherited part of their collection from Henriette’s parents, Alice and Fernand Halphen, andjacques’ maternal grandfather, Albert Lehmann.
Collection of Jacques and Henriette Schumann, Christie's, Paris, 30th September 2003, lot 85.

Accompanied by a copy of a French cultural passport no.107322.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11877-207824.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession number 18.145.23, wrongly classified as shield boss; cf. Connolly, P., Greece and Rome at war, London, 2006, figs.9-14 p.101, for a similar one and the fastening system.

This type of armour, composed from a bronze breast and back plate with hinged shoulder straps, all the parts backed with iron, was used by Etruscans, Hernici, Aequi and Volsci, the feared enemies of early Rome. In particular our item has many parallels with the disc-cuirass (cardiophylax) found in the Necropolis of Alfadena.

Featuring a central circular void and a series of concentric triangular-section ridges and incorporating an X or cross motif; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 1.36 kg total, 32.6 cm high including stand

with H. Cahn, Basel.
Subsequently Tajan auction, 8 February 2008, lot 251.