Cylinder with attached cord and bead handle; accompanied by a copy of an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: ' Cylinder-Stamp Seal of Bronze, 330x08.5 mm. The seal is surmounted by a suspension loop, beneath which is a double-faced demon head with large, animal-like ears and beards. The neck is decorated with horizontal lines at the fronts and vertical lines at the sides. This rests immediately on the seal proper. The design of the cylinder seal is put between double lines above and beneath. It shows a standing worshipper with raised hands before an incense burner, a group of seven dots, a lunar cresent [sic], a lozenge-shape and a slender tree. The base, the stamp seal, shows a winged solar disc. Such seals, which are quite rare, come from the mountainous area to the north of Mesopotamia, and date from c. 900-700 B.C. In this case the worshipper and the winged disc are borrowed from Assyrian art, but the combination of items before the worshipper is not Assyrian. The demon-head cannot be identified with certainty, though it may be a variety of the Mesopotamian Pazuzu.'; accompanied by museum-quality impressions. 7.82 grams total, 8.1-32.64 mm

UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983.

Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in September 1990.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cylinder with cord and bead handles; accompanied by a copy of 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 black stone flecked with light green, 28 x 13.5 mm., condition fine. Two rows of three horned animals, all recumbent, the upper row with antlers, the lower row with horns as of mouflons, the design between upper and lower rules. Though the animals somewhat resemble those on Jemdet Nasr seals of northern Mesopotamia, the stone and the rules point to north-west Iran c. 1300-1100 B.C. It is a rare style, with considerable elegance of depiction.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 9.22 grams total, 8.1-28 mm

UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983.

Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in June 1991.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

With frieze depicting rearing ibexes and lions in combat; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 9.21 grams, 24 mm

UK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Fragment of a conoid seal; Bivar notes in his summary: 'White chalcedony conoid with the reverse end broken off, leaving disk-shaped bezel. Fifth century B.C. This shape is perhaps typical of Babylonia. Above, "Ahuramazda symbol" r., with a human bust crowned...'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 14.3 grams, 25 mm

with Christie's, London, 21 April 1999, no.12.

Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note typed and signed by A.D.H. (David) Bivar.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12541-230316.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Discoid in plan with convex upper face; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Amber Chalcedony 21 x 19 x 11 mm. This is a scaraboid pieced vertically. The design shows a standing worshipper in long robe raising one hand to a stand on which is a prancing bull on the back of which rises a pole surmounted with a lunar crescent. The stand is covered with wavey lines. This is a Late Babylonian seal, c. 600-350 B.C. from Mesopotamia or an adjacent area. The general design is typical for the period, but the stand with wavey lines and the prancing bull are rare and may be unique to this seal. The seal is worn and there is a chip by the head of the worshipper, but the design is entirely clear'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 6.33 grams, 20.92 mm

with Christie's, London, 13 June 2000, no.517 [Part].

Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in July 2000.
Accompanied by copies of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Carved in the half-round as a perching bird with reserved piriform wing; underside with three drilled designs, each a pair of feet; pierced for suspension. 46.3 grams, 72 mm

Acquired 1979-1999.
London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 58.30.3, for a Jemdet Nasr avian figure.

Discoid in plan with zoomorphic handle; underside with contest scene of two opposed gryphons with forelegs raised standing on the corpse of a boar; faravahar above. 13.3 grams, 29 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.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12542-231458.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Thimble-shaped tapering cylinder with convex face; accompanied by a copy of an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Grey Chalcedony 21 x 19.5 x 30 mm. This is a conoid with oval convex face, pierced vertically near the top. The face shows a worship scene: a man in a long robe standing holding up one hand to a stand on which lies the mušhuššu-monster (part lion part snake) on the back of which rise the spade (symbol of the god Marduk) and two styluses (symbol of the god Nabû). There is a lunar crescent in the sky and a two-sign cuneiform inscription behind the man. This is a Late Babylonian seal, c. 600-350 B.C. from Mesopotamia or south-west Iran. The inscription consists of two signs: AN DUH x DUH and is well known on Late Babylonian stamp seals, but the second sign is unknown outside these seal inscriptions. The most probable explanation (based on related seal inscriptions) is that it means: "Cause him to have a god" which means "make him successful," a personal god brings success. The head of the standing figure is chipped, otherwise this seal is in very good condition, and is large for its type.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 18.8 grams, 29.79 mm high

with Christie's, London, 25 April 2001, no.464 [Part].

Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in July 2001.
Accompanied by copies of the relevant Christie's 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.12566-230321.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Thimble-shaped seal with engraved imagery; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Chalcedony 19.5 x 20 x 27 mm. This is a conoid with nearly round slightly convex face, pierced diagonally. The design shows the Achaemenid Persian king in tunic and Persian 'trousers' gripping in each hand the horn of a rearing antelope or similar animal which turns its head backwards. The king wears a crown. This is an Achaemenid Persian seal, c.500-350 B.C., from some part of the Persian empire. It is in a distinctive style, but so fare [sic] there has not been enough study to say exactly where this was made. The scene symbolises the Persian king's victories over his enemies. The seal is a little chipped, but generally in good condition'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 14.7 grams, 26.64 mm

Ex Dr Elie Browski.
with Christie's, London, 13 June 2000, no.609 [Part].

Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in July 2000.
Accompanied by copies of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Plano-convex in profile with Pahlavi inscription to the underside; transliterated as: 'Vahnām ī shāhānshāh-kārframān' (meaning 'Behnām, Overseer of Work for the King of Kings'); Bivar notes in his summary: 'This specimen represents a previously unrecorded variety of the so-called "administrative seals" which are engraved only with an inscription defining an office, and have no pictorial motif. It is unusual in apparently bearing a personal name, and in designating its bearer as kārframān "Overseer of Work"....'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 29.9 grams, 23.48 mm high

with Christie's, London, 25 April 2001, no.464 [Part].

Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note typed and signed by A.D.H. (David) Bivar, 9 May 2009.
Accompanied by copies of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising a tall facetted body pierced at the top, underside engraved with a robed figure in the worshipping attitude before an altar, star above; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 9.76 grams, 26 mm

UK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Lentoid in section with design to one face in three registers: left, large panel with impressed grid, square and spray; right, two smaller panels with hatching and geometric forms. 26.2 grams, 55 mm

From an important collection formed before 1988.
Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and 1990s.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12543-231889.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. Salvatore Monaco, Archaic Cuneiform Tablets from Private Collections, CUSAS 31, for other comparable tablets.