Achaemenid Banded Agate Bead with Gold Caps

Showing two goddesses and a worshipper; accompanied by a museum quality impression and a copy of an old scholarly note by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder seal of brown stone, 26 x 13 mm. Seated goddess to right, raising a hand, before her a minor goddess introducing a worshipper, both raising a hand. Crescent in sky. Third Dynasty of Ur, c. 2060-2000 B.C. Good engraving, very good condition.' 7.6 grams, 25 mm



From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.192. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, handwritten and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert and an old photograph.

Sheet gold ring with repoussé annulet and band of pellets, T-shaped suspension. 2.79 grams, 35 mm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12424-226930.

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.