Pillow-shaped in form with cuneiform text in dense rows to one face. 146 grams, 90 mm

Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992.
Thence by descent to family members.
Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples.

Tubular in form with large hatched panel above and frieze of standing beasts below; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 5.57 grams, 16 mm

Ex S collection, London, UK, 1980-1990.

With a central male deity (Marduk) in a Hittite gown facing right, holding a mace, facing a supplicant goddess in formal kaunakes, her right hand extended with the waters of Ea flowing from it; crescent moon above, between the figures a pillar and a flower, before na'ga, two supplicants attend with formal dress, possibly some ancient re-cutting; accompanied by a custom-made display stand and a museum-quality impression. 6.00 grams, 20.85 mm (50 grams total, 84 mm high including stand)

Ex Bedfordshire estate collection assembled during the early to mid 20th century.
Ex RH collection, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, UK.
Ex Helios Gallery antiquities, Wiltshire, UK.

Accompanied by an original Helios Gallery certificate of authenticity with stock reference no.H2934d.
Accompanied by a copy of a letter of attribution from antiquarian Phil Jones.

Cf. Briggs, B., Early Near Eastern Seals in the Yale Babylonian Collection, Yale University Press, 1981, p.319, 872, for use of water of Ea on Old Babylonian seals.

With intaglio frieze depicting two worshippers addressing an altar with faravahar above, heavy barred door to the side; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 2.83 grams, 17 mm

Ex S collection, London, UK, 1980-1990s.

With triumphant heroes, accompanied by a museum-quality impression and typed and signed scholarly note issued by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder Seal of White Stone 24 x 17 mm. The design shows the same scene twice: a standing hero with big long beard and wearing a long robe to the ankles is gripping one front paw of a rearing monster in front of him as he holds up the other hand. The monster has a bull's body with wings and a bird's head with projecting horns or ears. This is a rare type of seal coming from west central Asia. A date c. 1100-800 BC is the most likely. The seal is in good condition.' 11.3 grams, 24.2 mm (65 grams total, 68 mm including stand)

Ex Signo collection, the property of a West London businessman, formed in the late 1980s-early 1990s; item number T-927.
Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s; accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert.

With intaglio frieze depicting two tall robed female figures with a sun-disc in mid-air between them and with a smaller figure holding a spear, to the rear a fruit-bearing tree and a third tall figure holding a long tool or weapon; border formed with three vertical lines and a row of triangles; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 33.9 grams, 39 mm

From a Cotswold, UK, collection; as seen and catalogued by the late Professor Wilfrid George Lambert pre 1990.

Accompanied by a previous catalogue information slip.

With intaglio king in tall headdress gripping the throat of a rearing gryphon. 8.09 grams, 24 mm

Acquired between 1980-1983.
From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals.

An Assyrian or Urartian bell-shaped seal featuring a ribbed suspension loop attached to a stepped base; on the convex underside of the seal, there is an intricate engraving depicting a mythical creature that combines the body of an eagle with a fish tail; this hybrid creature is depicted facing to the left and holding a hare in its beak, with a snake coiled around the seal's perimeter; accompanied by a museum-quality impression and a typed and signed scholarly note issued by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Chalcedony / 23 x 14.5 mm. / This has a round, convex face, and above it is a cylinder with sharply concave sides, on top of which is (of one piece with the rest) a pierced lug with grooves over its top. The design on the base shows a standing composite creature: legs, wings and head of a bird, but body of a fish. In its beak it is holding a dead hare or other such creature. Around the design is a snake, whose body does not quite complete the circle. / This is an Urartian seal, from the ancient Kingdom of Urartu, c. 800-650 B.C. It comes from the area around Lake Van. The composite creature is a typical feature of the art of this kingdom. The snake is interesting, since it is the forerunner of the famous Ourobouros on magic gems of the period c. 100 B.C. to 200 A.D. It often appears surrounding a design, but it has its tail in its mouth. This seal has very slight chipping of the edges, but generally is in very good condition.' 4.71 grams, 23 mm

Private collection, England, 1990.
European art market.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, New York, 6 December 2007, no.374.
From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals.
with Bonhams, London, 7 December 2021, no.64 (£3,000 - £4,000).

Accompanied by a copy of a typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

Cf. a chrysotite Urartian loop-handled stamp seal in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, acc. no.1984.175.28, which shows a similar bird-fish hybrid monster.

With intaglio scene of two opposed rams with a star between and legend above. 808 grams, 23 mm

Acquired between 1980-1983.
From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals.

Cf. Gyselen, R., Acta Iranica 44. Sasanian Seals and Sealings in the A. Saeedi Collection, Leuven, 2007, item 30.C.1, for type.

With scrolls to the shoulders, ellipsoid face with intaglio running stag, star and Pahlavi legend surrounding. 6.86 grams, 23 mm

Acquired between 1980-1983.
From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals.

Cf. Gyselen, R., Acta Iranica 44. Sasanian Seals and Sealings in the A. Saeedi Collection, Leuven, 2007, item 30.C.2, for type.

Scaraboid stamp seal with winged sphinx design, pierced horizontally for suspension. 4.13 grams, 20 mm

Anonymous sale; with Christie's, New York, 13 June 2000, no.517 (part).
From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals.

Pierced longitudinally for suspension. 4.36 grams, 19 mm

Acquired between 1980-1983.
From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals.