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LOT 1353
Achaemenid Gold Appliques Depicting Winged Lions
5TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.
1/2 in. (1.92 grams total, 15 mm each).
Comprising seven circular mounts, each with a repoussé winged lion, depicted in a seated pose with its head turned, pierced thrice through the outer rim. [7]
ProvenancePrivate English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s.
Private collection, UK.
See the Oxus Treasure in the British Museum, London, registration nos. 1897,1231.28–30, for closely related examples.
FootnotesGold held immense significance in the Achaemenid Empire, not only as a symbol of wealth and divine favour but also as a practical medium for art, currency, and royal regalia. It was used in architectural decoration, lavish court objects, jewellery, and ceremonial ware, often reflecting the empire’s vast wealth and cosmopolitan reach. Among the prominent motifs in Achaemenid art is the lion-griffin—a mythical creature combining the body of a lion with the wings of an eagle. This powerful image, frequently seen in gold appliqués, seals, and metalwork, conveyed themes of imperial power, protection, and control over both terrestrial and celestial realms. The lion-griffin stood as an emblem of dominance and guardianship, befitting the grandeur of Persia’s imperial ideology.
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AUCTIONS:
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Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowhead Collection
18th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Including triangular, leaf-shaped, barbed, paddle-shaped arrowheads with a flat, comparatively wide mid-rib, and others. 205 grams total, 37-93 mm
Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. 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.
Fourteen arrowheads of this group were typical of the Old Babylonian Empire. The shoulders were pronounced and the arrowhead had a rectangular-section tapering tang. This simple form was popular across the ancient Near East, and similar items have been found in the Holy Land. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Seal Matrix Group
17th-18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Comprising four seal matrices, each with an inscribed matrix. 14 grams total, 19.6-25.3 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Third Dynasty of Ur Brown Stone Cylinder Seal with Worship Scene
Circa 2060-2000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
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.
