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Akkadian Black Stone Cylinder Seal of the Sun God Shamash
Circa 2334-2279 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
Finely engraved with a religious scene, sun god Shamash seated on a throne with his feet resting on a padded stand, holding a scimitar in his raised left hand and wearing a horned headdress; four bearded deities and a smaller, clean-shaven young male worshipper before him, each of the deities wearing a horned headdress and a pleated garment; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 49.1 grams, 40 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. Accompanied by a copy of a report from Assyriologist Hui Li. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12539-231427. 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.
The seal's excellent glyptic techniques, naturalistic depictions of the facial features, and the presented religious scene suggest that this seal might have belonged to a high official. -
Anatolian Black Stone Cylinder Seal with Standing Hunter
Circa 1200-1000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
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, 38 x 22.5 mm., condition very good. The stone is slightly wider at the base than the top. Scene of standing hunter (?), sideways and inverted quadrupeds, scorpion, unidentified four legged creature, lunar crescent, dot with four concentric circles around it; the whole between two rules. Syrian or Anatolian, c. 1200-1000 B.C.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 35.7 grams, 37 mm
UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in November 1988. 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. -
Levantine Jasper Cylinder Seal with Figures
Circa 1000-500 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,430
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 Red Stone with some Black and White Patches, 36 x15 mm., held in Ancient Bronze Mount with Ring, Total Height: 53 mm. The design shows two figures, the one on the left seated on a stool narrower at floor level than at the seat, he has a bare head, wears clothing down to his ankles, holds a mace in the right hand, a second mace projects above his shoulders, while in his left hand there is a revolving weapon (a sling?). Facing him is a standing figure with clothes to the knees, holding up an unidentified small object in his right hand, holding down a mace in the left hand. Something is suspended by a cord from his extended elbow, and a bow is attached to his shoulders. Between the two figures is a recumbent feline with head turned back. In the sky there is a winged solar disc. For a terminal there is an elaborate stand supporting what is apparently a divine standard. The whole design is put between upper and lower rules. This is a Levantine seal dating to c. 1000-500 B.C. of an extremely rare type. The closest parallel is a cylinder seal in the Louvre, L. Delaporte, Musee du Louvre, Catalogue des Cylindres Orientaux II (1923) A 958, found at Neirab, near Aleppo. The two figures owe something to Old Babylonian seals, the revolving weapon and the dress of the standing figure. The feline, however, and the general 'feel' of the piece are clearly of later and more westerly origin. This is an important piece for its size and rarity; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 20.4 grams, 58 mm
From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.P9. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert dated June 1992. 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. -
Early Achaemenid Carnelian Cylinder Seal with Hunting Scene
550-450 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
With a dynamic frieze composed of a large bird, possibly an ostrich, running and looking back towards human-bodied winged bull, the anthropomorphic creature (possibly depicting Lamassu) wearing a crown and drawing a bow aiming it at the escaping bird, a small bird on the foreground; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.28 grams, 18 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 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. -
Western Asiatic Steatite Cylinder Seal with Figures
2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
With frieze depicting opposed standing figures with spears and khopesh, gryphon, ankh and other items; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 7.16 grams, 24 mm
Acquired in 1997. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. 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. -
Achaemenid Banded Agate Cylinder Seal with King Grasping Rampant Gryphons
6th-4th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £975
Biconical with median gusset, showing a standing ling grasping the throat of two rearing gryphons; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.39 grams, 24 mm
Ex 'S' collection, London, UK. 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 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. -
Mesopotamian Haematite Cylinder Seal with Figures
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
With incuse frieze comprising a standing robed figure and a winged figure with a spear advancing towards a kilted figure with daggers in his hands above an ankh; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.43 grams, 17.14 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 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. -
Old Babylonian Haematite Cylinder Seal with Inscription
Circa 1900-1600 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,040
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: 'Two standing gods face a complex scene. The first deity is a Lamma goddess, in horned tiara, long flounced robe, and she is raising both hands. Behind her stands the god with mace: hat with deep brim, clothes to the knees, and holding his mace at the waist. What they are witnessing is a standing monster: general build of a lion, but wings, a brush tail and talons of a bird of prey for legs. Its head is leaning down. Above it stands a god in long robe and long tiara, with one leg projecting and foot resting on some strange being. The god holds a whip over one shoulder and forked lightning in the other hand. Facing him in the distance is a small walking figure holding up some object. A two-line cuneiform inscription names two gods: Adad and Shala. This is an Old Babylonian seal, c. 1900-1600 B.C. It is somewhat worn, but the design is rare for the animal and god above it. This god is Adad, the storm god, identified by whip, forked lightning, and the animal on which he stands, which was passed down to the Old Babylonian period from the Akkad period. Thus the design is of considerable interest. Shala was the wife of Adad.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 15.9 grams, 30 mm
From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.P105. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert. 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. -
Canaanite Bronze Warrior God Pair
Early 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
Formed as two standing nude females with arms spread, one gripping the waist of the other, on a lentoid base. 41.3 grams, 78 mm
Acquired in Paris and London, 1970s. From a collection of Canaanite gods in bronze, from the collection of a London, UK, 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. -
Canaanite Bronze Warrior Goddess
Early 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
Formed with conical headdress and pin to lower body. 10.8 grams, 71 mm
Acquired in Paris and London, 1970s. From a collection of Canaanite gods in bronze, from the collection of a London, UK, 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. -
Canaanite Bronze Bearded Warrior God Holding Mace
Early 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,420
Modelled in the round with braided headdress and hatched body, mace in the right hand and khopesh cradled in left arm. 109 grams, 12 cm
Acquired in Paris and London, 1970s. From a collection of Canaanite gods in bronze, from the collection of a London, UK, gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12699-234382. 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. -
Canaanite Bronze Male Warrior God with Hat
Early 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,120
Modelled in the round with baldric and belt, collar and headdress. 126 grams, 15.7 cm
Acquired in Paris and London, 1970s. From a collection of Canaanite gods in bronze, from the collection of a London, UK, gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12700-234380. 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.