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LOT 1302
Amorite Terracotta Bull
LATE 3RD-EARLY 2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
3 1/4 in. (60 grams, 83 mm).
Modelled in the round, with humped shoulder and downturned horns.
ProvenancePrivate collection Mr S.A., acquired in 1991.
Thence by descent.
The figurine was modelled simplistically and only the presence of a hump and horns makes it possible to identify the animal as a zebu, which was common in the prehistoric Mesopotamian world. Similar figurines, which reproduced animals and humans, are typical of Amorite art, named after a group of semi-nomadic populations who lived in the north-western part of the Near East in the 3rd and 2nd millennium B.C. From the 20th century B.C., the incursions and armed pressure that the Amorites exerted on the kingdom of Ur overthrew the existing dynasties and created several kingdoms throughout Mesopotamia whose dynasties retained a strong attachment to their original culture.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Western Asiatic Stone Weight Collection
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Fusiform, obate and other types in banded agate, haematite and other materials. 59 grams total, 12-58 mm
Ex Simmons gallery, 1990s. From a North London, UK, collection. -
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Large Western Asiatic Alabaster Cylinder Seal with Procession
Circa 3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
With frieze of advancing figures. 26.3 grams, 32 mm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector, collection number 063. London collection, 2016. -
Old Babylonian Cylinder Seal of Ili-iddinam, Servant of the Goddess Nin-si'anna
Circa 1900-1600 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,105
With three standing figures; 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 Black Stone with White Streaks / 31 x 17 mm. / The design consists of three standing figures: a god in short clothes on the right, a worshipper in long robe raising one hand in the middle, and a nude female shown frontally on the left. A spade symbol appears in front of the god on the right. A two line cuneiform inscription names the ancient seal-owner: Ili-iddinam, servant of (the goddess) Nin-si'anna / Nin-si'anna is a name of Ishter-Venus. This is an Old Babylonian seal, c. 1900-1600 B.C. It has a rare stone for the period, but is not deeply cut. The seal is in very good state of preservation.' 17 grams, 31 mm
Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s. From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK. From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent. Accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.
