Achaemenid Faience and Other Bead Necklace

A shell cylinder seal with scenes in two registers; accompanied by 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 fossil shell, 45 x 17 mm. Two registers: above two seated figures drinking beer from a pot through straw, palm tree terminal. Below: contest scene of hero, two domestic quadrupeds and two lions. trans-Tigridian, c.2500-2300 B.C. Condition fair.' 23.4 grams, 45 mm



From an important family collection. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Accompanied by a typed and signed note by Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

'Trans-Tigridian' in this context means 'from across the River Tigris', i.e. from the region between the Tigris and the Zagros mountains, between the Iranian highlands and Mesopotamia.

A mixed group of complete and fragmentary ceramic artefacts, including decorated vessels, figural idols, the head of a bovine and other items. 662 grams total, 4.3-17.5 cm



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998.

A group of two ceramic artefacts: an Ur miniature pot of carinated form with everted lip, dated c.2000 B.C.; a roughly rectangular tablet bearing cuneiform text to both principal faces and to each side edge, a memo relating to an expenditure of beer for mercenaries in garrison in the service of Babylon (20th year Abi-ešuh 1711-1684 BC): '2 jars of 15 liters for the rations of the troop of the Cassites. Contribution of Ibnatum.' 100 grams total, 36-43 mm



From an old UK collection. From the private collection of Alf Baxendale (1941-2016) part 2, keen Egyptologist, member of the Egyptology Society, trustee of the Amarna Trust; thence by descent. Accompanied by two identification display cards. Accompanied by a copy of his obituary published in Horizon, The Amarna Project and Amarna Trust newsletter, Issue 18, 2017, p.21, by Barry John Kemp, CBE, FBA, Professor Emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Cambridge and directing excavations at Amarna in Egypt.