Achaemenid Bronze Flower Finial Collection

A hollow-formed figure or idol head with conical cap, pinched facial form, applied brows and other detailing; mounted on a stand. 600 grams, 16 cm

Fine condition.

Property of a Cambridgeshire lady; formerly in the Igor Karmiloff collection (1925-2016), UN economist and author of Flashbacks, Icons of Impermanence, Bloomington, 2009; acquired in the 1950s-early 1990s. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent.

With a god shooting a sphinx; accompanied by a museum quality impression and 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 Grey Stone, 39 x 12. Top and bottom borders are filled with rows of chevrons going in opposite directions, and the design between a kneeling god shooting at a facing sphynx with a bird's head. As filling motifs there are: a small tree or plant, a lozenge, a triangle and a crescent. At each end the stone is stained by remains of original bronze caps, and the bronze bar which ran through the central hole is still present, though the rest of the metal, save for traces, has disappeared. This is a Neo-Assyrian cylinder, c. 900-800 B.C., from Assyria itself, or from neighbouring areas.' 8.7 grams, 39 mm



From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.P16. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert dated February 1992 and an old photograph.

With combat scene of a standing figure grappling with two rearing ibexes each looking backwards towards a rearing horse; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 17.2 grams, 30 mm



From an important London collection, 1980s-2000s.