Achaemenid Bronze Phiale Mesomphalos

With globular body and broad flared mouth; cracked. 415 grams, 15 cm high



Ex London, UK, collection, 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.

While the spherical shape of jars appears already in the Early Bronze IV Period (pottery from associated tombs in Megiddo), with the coming of the Middle Bronze Age the barrel-shaped jar of the Northern Group of Holy Land pottery shows a preference for the spherical forms.

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 flecked with light green, 28 x 13.5 mm., condition fine. Two rows of three horned animals, all recumbent, the upper row with antlers, the lower row with horns as of mouflons, the design between upper and lower rules. Though the animals somewhat resemble those on Jemdet Nasr seals of northern Mesopotamia, the stone and the rules point to north-west Iran c. 1300-1100 B.C. It is a rare style, with considerable elegance of depiction.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 9.22 grams total, 8.1-28 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in June 1991. 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.

Broad with slightly inturned rim, concentric circles to base. 313 grams, 19.5 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. 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.