Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

With separate hinge and suspension loop; obverse with nimbate robed figure in a tondo with legend 'ΓΕΟΡΓ[Η]' (St George); reverse with robed and nimbate figure in orans pose with 'ICX' beneath each wrist, smaller nimbate figure before, legend 'MHP ΘV' (Mother of God). 82 grams, 10.8 cm



From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the mid 1980s.

Featuring a large, shallow piriform bowl, stepped junction with a boar's head above, a hexagonal-section stem extending from behind the boar's neck bearing a Greek inscription 'TTETPOY' (of Peter); a balustered handle with a cuboid, striated finial. 60.77 grams, 21.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, Surrey, UK.

The inscription suggests that the spoon may have had a liturgical purpose, associated with the Holy Communion. Still today in the Orthodox Church, the Body and Blood of Christ are dispensed with similar liturgical objects. The name Peter can be associated with the church, or simply with the owner of the liturgical artefact.

Plano-convex in section with low-relief carving: scene with a meal at a so-called sigma table surrounded by Christ, Peter, John and the other disciples; Christ and Peter attending and beardless Saint John the Evangelist preparing the fish. 9.95 grams, 32 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.13368-259040.

In early Byzantine art, Saint Peter is often depicted as the only figure apart from Christ to be shown with a nimbus, to emphasise his pre-eminent position as a church father and the 'rock' of the church.

Modelled with a grimacing expression and exposed teeth, long horns extending from the brow towards the back of the head; pierced through the rear edge; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 73 grams, 75 mm (119 grams total, 10.5 cm including stand)



Private Swiss collection, before 2005. Private collection, London.

Fragment from a plaque or large bowl with high-relief head and foreparts of a lion with broad piriform face and sunken eyes; rounded rim above. 246 grams, 96 mm



Ex Mr J.K. Maryland, USA. Private collection. Acquired in 1999.

From a technical point of view, the sculpture, in low relief, belonged to a ritual element with profile figures highlighted by an extremely delicate internal modelling, with space between the various decorative bands that admirably preserves the figure of the lion, giving it full value, according to an artistic principle also found in the seals of the Jemdet Nasr period (2800-2600 BC).

Long tablet with rows of densely arranged impressed cuneiform text on one side. 363 grams, 15.5 cm



Private collection, 1980s. UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert. Accompanied by an original handwritten slip written by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert.

The majority of a pillow-shaped tablet with impressed cuneiform text on three sides and a cylinder seal impression on the short face. 214 grams, 76 mm



Private collection, 1980s. UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert. Accompanied by an original handwritten slip written by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert.

A stone frieze with four lines of large cuneiform text accompanied by documentation to support that this a section from the annals of King Ashurnasirpal II: 'Ashurnasirpal (II), great king, mighty king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, son of Tukulti-Ninurta (II), great king, mighty king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, son of Adad-nirari (II), great king, mighty king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, valiant man, who acts with the support of the weapons of Assur, his lord, who has no equal among the princes of the four regions, king who has subdued (the territories extending) from the opposite bank of the Tigris to Mount Lebanon and the Great Sea, the entire land of Laqû, the land of Suhu as far as the city of Rapiqu. He conquered the sources of the Subnat river as far as the land of Nirbu…'; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 2.85 kg total, 36.5 cm wide including stand



Belgian private collection, acquired before 1960, and thence by descent to his widow. with Mrs Drees (?), Brussels, acquired from the widow of the above, 2004. with Pierre Bergé & Associés, Paris, 28 October 2006, lot 219. with Gorny & Mosch, Munich, 12 December 2023, lot 416. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13369-258955.

Most of the reliefs and inscriptions of this king are in the British Museum and Louvre. Further holdings are in the New York Historical Society, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University. They celebrated the glory of the Assyrians at the apogee of their Empire.

Architectural fragment with rectangular band to one edge, carved decorative detailing with inscription. 7.85 kg, 32.6 cm



Private collection, Europe, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1980s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12521-231989.

Amid the many architectural, sculptural, and textual riches of Assyria and Mesopotamia, the broken pieces of basalt bearing fragmentary cuneiform inscriptions have received little attention, but are of fundamental importance. Despite being quite fragmentary, these broken pieces of basalt are the remains of an important witness to the Assyrian imperial presence in the Near East.

Formed as a standing figure cradling an infant; stylised facial and anatomical detailing; openwork cage structure and suspension loop to reverse of head. 58.6 grams, 91 mm



Ex Samuel Dubiner (1914-1993), Canada, a prominent businessman, arts patron, and one of the world's most distinguished collectors of Bronze Age and Iron Age Iranian art, including Amlash material. Acquired by the current owner from the above, circa 1985-1995.

With a central bar with a semi-circle on either side, surmounted by a flat platform with a stag with large, elaborate horns, standing behind a doe; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 405 grams, 17 cm (922 grams total, 31 cm including stand)



From a private collection, since 1989. Ex West London, UK collection.

Standing with head raised, dewlap to the chin and chest, angled hump behind the shoulders; mounted on a custom-made stand. 215 grams, 11.1 cm wide (351 grams total, 11.7 cm including stand)



Acquired before 1972. with a London, UK gallery. Private collection, UK.