Auction Highlights
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Greek Marble Head of Dionysus
Sold for (Inc. bp): £23,400
Carved in the half-round in three-quarter view, youthful male head with stern features, hair gathered in a browband, horns to the brow; from a frieze or relief; mounted on a custom-made stand. -
Greek Marble Head of a Ruler
Sold for (Inc. bp): £31,200
Carved in the round with thick wreath of laurel leaves to the brow, short tousled hair, stern face with thick jaw; mounted on a custom-made stand. -
Roman Veined Marble Torso of an Athlete
Sold for (Inc. bp): £48,100
Standing contrapposto with his weight on his right leg and the left leg brought slightly forward; the musculature of the torso displaying well-defined pectoral muscles, prominent abdominal muscles and wide shoulders, the back with equally toned musculature and well-formed rounded buttocks; the veining of the marble accentuating the idealised anatomy; the now-absent head was most probably turned towards the supporting leg and the left arm would have been raised; mounted on a custom-made display stand. -
Large Middle Elamite Cylinder Seal of Kidnu, Chief Overseer of King Tan-Ruhurater II
Sold for (Inc. bp): £15,600
A high-status green chalcedony seal with frieze depicting a seated figure in horned headdress facing a standing figure with arms outstretched, small monkey to the legs; six columns of Akkadian cuneiform text transliterated as: 1. ki-di-nu UGULA KUŠ-MEŠ 2. GAL šà tan-dru-hu- 3. ra-te-er EŠŠANA šu-ši 4. u an-za-an ARAD 5. šà dha-te-ri-iš 6. šak(?) ì-lí-šu 'Kidinu, chief overseer of the equerries(?) of Tan-Ruhurater, King of Susa and Anzan, servant of Haterishshak, his god'. The seal's owner was an official of King Tan-Ruhurater II (circa 1450 B.C.), king of Susa and Anzan. The title used to describe Kidinu is sometimes translated 'high official', elsewhere 'horse groom' or 'animal trainer'; the Elamite deity Haterish is otherwise unknown. -
Mesopotamian Torch Bearer Stand with Lion Tamer
Sold for (Inc. bp): £46,800
A substantial torch bearer depicting a male lion or panther standing with legs firmly planted on a rectangular base, tail extending to the ground, with a massive circular shaped armature or candelabra issuing from its back and wearing an elaborate muzzle, the eyes retaining shell inlay with a circular hollow for the pupils; to the right of the beast a kneeling nude male wearing a large belt-armour and a diadem, eyes inlaid, left hand extended to the side and holding the lion's leash.
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Western Asiatic Mixed Bead Necklace
1st millennium B.C. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £26
Restrung designer necklace of graduated tubular and other beads, in glass, carnelian and other materials. 46.4 grams, 39 cm
Acquired on the London, UK, art market in the 1990s. Ex London, UK, gallery. -
Mesopotamian Cylinder Seal with Adad and Lama Goddess
Late 3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,560
Haematite with the weather and storm god Adad standing of his symbol animal (the bull), holding in his left hand the lightning-fork, faces the suppliant goddess Lama; inscription: 1: dingir bi/ga ud … mi-lik … / 2: dumu A-bi-zum 'son of Abizum,' / 3: ìr ͩnin-si4-an-na 'servant of Ninsianna' / 4: ù ͩkab-ta 'and Kabta'. 18.4 grams, 28 mm
Ex Persepolis Gallery, Mayfair, London, UK; in the 1980s. Private collection, London, UK. 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. -
Western Asiatic Decorated Gold Pendant Terminal
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
Crescentic in plan with applied filigree rim forming lateral loops, granule clusters and domed roundels. 4.84 grams, 45 mm
Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s. -
Aramaic Lead Magical Scroll
2nd-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
Comprising a flattened sheet fragment with cursive text to one face. 13 grams, 96 mm
From the property of late Mr SM, London, UK, 1969-1999. -
Western Asiatic Ceramic Necklace Bead Group
1st millennium B.C. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £52
Composed of ribbed oval-shaped beads, with a 'bee-hive' appearance. 12.1 grams total, 7-8 mm
UK gallery, early 2000s. -
Western Asiatic Lapis Lazuli and Carnelian Bead Necklace
1st millennium B.C. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £468
A restrung designer necklace composed of cylindrical lapis lazuli beads and seven large orange carnelian beads with extended collars, rock crystal spacer beads in between. 52.2 grams, 68 cm
Ex French gallery, 1970-1990. Paris collection, France. -
Western Asiatic Terracotta Vessel with Bronze Handle
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
Bulbous body with trumpet-shaped neck, flange to the forward edge pieced and fitted with a bronze ring; narrow spout. 388 grams, 17.5 cm
Ex Mr & Mrs L.R., 1950s-1970s, thence by descent. with Rouillac, Paris, France, 24 March 2021, no.517. Property of a French collector. -
Western Asiatic Mixed Glass Bead Necklace
1st millennium B.C. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £26
Restrung designer necklace including biconvex, annular, melon and other types in graduated series. 18.1 grams total, 45 cm
Acquired on the London, UK, art market in the 1990s. Ex London, UK, gallery. -
Western Asiatic Gold Necklace Element
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
Slightly curved hollow-formed decorative element from a necklace or collar, with three rows of cells to the segmented body each with a granulated collar, two lentoid eyes two one end and three flanges to the other, open at both ends and plain to the underside. 9.34 grams, 59 mm
From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s. -
Large Western Asiatic Terracotta Painted Jar
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £247
Bulbous in profile with low neck, circumferential painted bands, segmented and scrolled motifs. 2.16 kg, 26.5 cm
Ex London, UK, gallery, 1980s. From a UK private collection. -
Akkadian Cylinder Seal with Worship Scene
2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
Black stone with a figure wearing a long robe and horned cap, holding a sceptre, other hand raised in greeting to a central male figure seated on a bull; behind a bearded male figure wearing long robes and horned cap and carrying a sceptre; behind a panel with four rows of cuneiform text. 4.24 grams, 14 mm
From an important North London collection formed in the late 1980s. 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. -
Mesopotamian Cuneiform Tablet
2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Pillow-shaped clay tablet with cuneiform text to one broad face and one edge; chipped. 43.5 grams, 50 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. This small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples.