With drinking scenes; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder Seal of Translucent Greenstone / 31 x 12 mm. The engraved area is divided into two registers by a double line. Above is a drinking scene: two seated drinkers, each with a large ot of beer, and between the pots a standing servant. Below is a contest scene: two crossed lions molest each a horned animal. The horned animal on the left is upended, and is succoured by a hero. This comes from Mesopotamia and dates to c. 2400-2200 B.C. It is nicely engraved and in excellent state of preservation.' 8.09 grams, 31 mm

Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s.
From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK.
From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent.

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

With figural frieze between two borders of guilloche ornament: central hero-figure with axe in one raised hand, the other gripping the foreleg of a winged rampant gryphon, with recumbent goat at his feet; behind, radiant sun above a monkey sitting on the rump of a horse with a second gryphon attacking; opposed rampant ibexes flanking a tree; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 65.7 grams, 44 mm

From the property of late Mr SM, London, UK, 1970-1990s, thence by descent.
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.

With three standing figures; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder Seal of Fawn, Colourless and Whitish Agate, 22.5 x 9 mm. The design shows two standing bull-men holding between them a pole-standard with a kind of fleur-de-lis on top. There is a cuneiform inscription in Babylonian language: sa-ki-in (May god be merciful) / na4kisib an-ni (to the one equipped) / ilum li-re-en-s[u] (with this seal. This is a Cassite-period Babylonian seal, c. 1400-1100 B.C. It is a rare design for the period and the inscription may be unique. The seal is chipped at the edges, and is joined from two pieces with no loss of surface, and is in an attractive stone.' 2.8 grams, 22 mm

Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s.
From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK.
From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent.

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

With pointillé design of two birds one above the other, a scorpion and a tulip. 3.32 grams, 17 mm

From the 'S' collection, acquired 1970-1990s.
The collection was seen and studied by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

With frieze depicting three scorpions, four fishes and other items in themed groups; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 2.58 grams, 16 mm

From the 'S' collection, acquired 1970-1990s.
The collection was seen and studied by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

With bearded male between winged horses; accompanied by an old scholarly note, written and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder Seal of Amethist [sic] 24 x 11mm. Standing god between two winged horses. North Mesopotamia or West Iran. c.900-600 B.C. Condition good.' 6.57 grams, 23 mm

Ex Oasis Ancient Art, London, W1, before 1990.
Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the 1990s.
From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK.
From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent.

Accompanied by an original handwritten and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

With frieze in two registers; above: ibexes with raised heads drinking water from a rounded vessel mounted on a raised frame; below: repeating pattern of vessels with water flowing from their mouths; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 56 grams, 34 mm

From the property of late Mr SM, London, UK, 1970-1990s, thence by descent.
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.

Haematite cylinder seal featuring two horizontal registers with worshipping parades comprising long-robed male priests wearing ankle-length garments, seated on the stool-shaped throne, elegantly raising their left hands to hold a cup; other male priests in long garments either holding a vessel containing holy water or oil, or standing in a solemn gesture with hands raised or clasped in front of their chests. 5.26 grams, 32 mm

Acquired in the 1990s.
Ex West London family collection.
Property of a Bristol, UK, gentleman.

Iconographies and religious scenes seen on Early Dynastic seals are renowned for the further elaborations that depict contesting scenes, usually portraying nude heroes confronting bull-men or rampant, roaring lions. However, animals and heroes were not employed as the favourite motifs during the last part of the Early Dynastic period. Increased popularity of funerary art and banquets were richly practised in Ur, given an ample amount of royal cylinder seals that bear banquet or seated-king related scenes. On Early Dynastic cylinder seals, the image of a seated male figure holding a cup cannot always be interpreted with an extender divinity. It might have suggested a ruler's identity within a royal banquet scene. However, on this seal, the holy vessel and the representations of male worshippers indicate a clear religious significance. Within the traditional Mesopotamian religion, secular kings would have obtained divine power if they had engaged with the goddess Inanna during a sacred marriage. The cup, containing holy ointment or oil, held in the king's hand, might have been as an emblem to signify the elevated rank of a deified king. It might also have been used as an alternative religious practice, connecting the secular authority and the divine power during the Early Dynastic period.

Plano-convex glass seal imitating lapis lazuli with incuse leaping lion on a baseline with legend below, unpierced. 5.05 grams, 20 mm

From the Fadel family collection, London, UK, 1970s.

Amulet of a deity in human form wearing a pointed cap and pleated kilt, hands placed on the chest supporting coiled serpent (or staff), ledge to rear; possibly Tarḫunna, the Hittite weather-god. 3.9 grams, 29 mm

From the Bavarian private collection of F.U., Germany, before 2000.
Acquired Gorny & Mosch, 17 June 2015, lot 246.
Property of a French collector.

Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Gorny & Mosch catalogue pages.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12123-214885.

The proper name of the weather god is not known, as it was expressed with an ideogram in the texts; his name was probably Tarhunna, from Hattic Taru. Among the Luwians he was called Datta and Tarhunt. The Hittite province of Tarhuntassa, south of the heartland of the Hittite Empire, took its name from the latter: 'land of the weather god'.

Modelled in the round as a seated female with pinched facial features, hands pressed flat beneath the breasts, legs flexed; traces of pigment detailing to the face and collar; repaired. 57 grams, 77 mm

Acquired on the German art market, 1989-1995.
with The Museum Gallery, 19 Bury Place, London, WC1, UK, 1998-2003.
Property of a London based academic, 2003-present.

Modelled in the round with columnar head and neck, pinched and impressed facial details, applied headdress, collar and calf-length skirt, stub arms. 173 grams, 17.5 cm high

From the property of the late Mr SM, London, UK, 1969-1999.

Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.N122k33 from Oxford Authentication.