Achaemenid Bronze Phiale

Including barrel-shaped and other types with flat bezel, trumpet-bezel and other types. 47 grams total, 22 - 24 mm



Acquired in the 1990s. 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.

With round female body and short neck, depicted armless, perforated with two parallel holes at the top for suspension; the edges and the centre embossed with dots. 6.87 grams, 63 mm



From a private family collection formed since the early 19th century, thence by descent. Property of a New Zealand legal professional. 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.12319-223722. 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.

These idols have a broad chronological and spatial range, with late variants known from Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age burial contexts in central Europe and Western Asia. Some of these idols have round bodies, and heads in the form of tabs. They developed from the earlier stone idols, leading to the representation of the human form becoming even more stylised when crafted in silver or copper.

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 Carnelian 19 x 8.5 mm, The scene shows two winged quadrupeds in a frieze. Each has the body of a bull, but with wings. Each is running and the front part of the body is reared up, overlapping the one in front. It is meant as a scene of one animal chasing the other. The seal is engraved mainly with the cutting wheel, but there are dots along the animals' bodies and at other points down with the drill. The seal is convex in shape, like a bead. This is a seal in the Neo-Babylonian style, c. 900-750 B.C., though examples have been found both in Babylonia and in south-west Iran. It is in very good condition and is an attractive piece.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.18 grams, 19 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in May 1992. 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.