Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

An oval grey-blue intaglio featuring a reclining antelope, set in a later hollow-form gold ring; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 5.95 grams, 25.63 mm overall, 18.29 x 18.82 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q 1/2, USA 8 1/4, Europe 18.12, Japan 17)



Acquired on the European art market.

Polished plano-convex crystal gem in sheet gold cell with two bands of herringbone braid to the sidewall and five more to the loop, applied granules at the junction with the cell. 15.43 grams, 34 mm



From a North American gentleman's collection, 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13373-259034.

Rock crystal beads were found in Tomb I of the Assyrian Princess in Nimrod. In the same graves were found crouching monkeys, recumbent bulls, seals depicting a nude Ishtar and other seals, all carved from rock crystal.

Ovoid in plan with a loop to the narrow end, repoussé pellets to the rim, star-and-crescent motifs, and ropework borders. 3.47 grams, 45 mm



Acquired by a Swiss family in the mid-1980s to late 1990s, thence by descent. Private collection, Switzerland, since the late 1990s.

The crescent is often illustrated in the clan symbols (neshan) of aristocratic Sasanian families. On the reliefs of Naghsh-e-Rustam, the crescent moon is linked to aristocratic clans, and on various monuments, it is linked with military units.

A late Kushan or Hephthalites Dynasty discoid pendant with a female deity, possibly Nana, at the centre holding a lotus flower in her right hand, hair elaborately dressed and wearing large earrings, necklace and bracelets; enclosed by a border of stylised bull heads and a double-plaited border, the outer edge with raised bosses; later applied polygonal suspension loop with granulated collars and an oval garnet cabochon. 22.11 grams, 71 mm



Acquired by a Swiss family in the mid-1980s to late 1990s, thence by descent. Private collection, Switzerland, since the late 1990s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13021-246776.

Nana (Kushan Greek: Νανα, Ναναια, Ναναϸαο, Sogdian Nni) was a Bactrian female deity, a variation of the pan-Asian Nana, a fusion of the Sumero-Babylonian Inanna-Ishtar with a local deity, in her Kushan form with the local (Zoroastrian) Harakhvati Aredvi Sura Anahita. Such syncretism was common among Kušan deities. She was an important patron deity in the Kushan Empire and the most important deity worshipped by Emperor Kaniška (c. 127-150 A.D.).

Restrung group of graduated fusiform lentoid-section beads and at the centre interstitial collars with granulated borders; modern clasp. 42 grams, 55.5 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1970-1990.

With a carinated sidewall, rolled and everted rim, shallow foot, partial lustre-glaze to the surface with four trapezoidal panels: two with a reserved regardant bird and two with a tracery motif; restored. 498 grams, 18.5 cm



Private collection, Japan, acquired prior to 1982. Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12724-235155.

With conical lower body, carination and rounded bowl; white glaze with blue and black zigzags. 394 grams, 17 cm wide



Ex London, UK, gallery, 1971-early 2000s. London, UK, collection.

Hemispherical in profile with basal ring, painted rim and trefoil motif on a textured field. 651 grams, 25 cm wide



Acquired before 1978. Private collection, UK.

Conical in profile with ring foot; glazed inner face with reserved cross and panels of calligraphic text; text to underside inside foot; old collectors' labels to sidewall. 142 grams, 13.8 cm



with Christie's, London, Islamic Manuscripts, Miniatures, and Works of Art, 10 October 1989, no.485. Private collection, London.

With drum-shaped body and broad shoulder, tapering neck and flared mouth, recessed underside, segmented facets to the neck and edge of the shoulder, iridescent surface; repaired. 412 grams, 20.6 cm



Acquired on the UK art market, 1990s. Private collection, New York, USA. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13374-255459.

This object was probably produced in Nishapur, a vital city in the early and middle Islamic period, located on the Silk Road. The people of high and low-level classes of Nishapur, land-owning aristocracy and literates or simple farmers and miners, were able to adapt the cultural trends arriving from the Silk Road, creating a material culture with a distinctive visual language.

Conical in profile with carinated collar above the waisted foot; iridescent surface; applied band of calligraphic Kufic text within borders; single applied narrow loop handle. 92.3 grams, 93 mm



Acquired on the UK art market, 1990s. Private collection, New York, USA. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13375-255455.

Often, the inscriptions on the glass Islamic artworks are in pseudo-Kufic letters, mostly with elements notched or hatched with shallow cuts. Some letters have foliate terminations.

Comprising a squat, rounded body and tubular neck with a rounded rim, pontil base; dragged swirl motifs in white on a navy blue field; repaired. 242 grams, 15.5 cm



Private collection, UK.

These vessels were core-formed, in opaque green manganese, with a flattened spherical body and tall, thin tapering neck. Such categories of vessels were especially produced in the region of the Fayoum.