Anatolian Stone Stamp Seal

Squat in profile with narrow basal ring, broad mouth; shoulder with band of ornamental Kufic calligraphic text with silver inlay on a field of leaves and tendrils, reading: 'al-'izz wa'l-iqbal wa'l-dawla wa'l-salama wa'l-sa'ada wa'l-nima wa'l-'afiya wa wa'l-shukra wa'l-shakir[a] wa'l-nusra wa'l-nasirawa'l-'inaya wa'l-baqa da'iman' (Glory and prosperity and wealth and well-being and happiness and divine grace and health and gratitude and gratefulness and victory and favour and long life, perpetually); two strips of silver inlay to the edges of the median band; knotwork arcading below with silver inlay to the weave and pendants. 82 grams, 10 cm wide



with a London, UK gallery 1971-early 2000s. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12545-231976. 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.

A bifacial sceptre head formed as a Master of Animals atop a collared tubular stem with flared foot; the finial composed of two addorsed birds standing on their backs looking up towards two birds' heads facing down and joined to slender crescentic arms representing slender beasts with ridged backs and roaring mouths, each in the grip of the Master standing crowned between them; the Master with tubular body, animal-like ears, prominent nose above a small mouth and wearing collars, neck rings and tiered headdress; waisted socket below; mounted on a display stand. 399 grams, 32.3 cm (526 grams total, 34.5 cm including stand)



Acquired between 1965-2020. Private collection, London. 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.

The small head belongs to the tubular idols with protomes of second type of ‘Master of Animals’, probably being a finial standard. This type, according to Chausidis, came to be with the gradual transformation of the ‘zoomorphic standards with a human head, whereby the front legs of the animals became integrated into the tubular pillar of the standards. It gradually began to be cast with the other elements, representing the neck and torso of the central anthropomorphic character that retained the two-faced feature of the previous type. The necks and heads of the animal pair separated from the rest of their bodies, which, in turn, gradually lost their original form and acquired new meanings.

Freestanding, with a pinched face, elaborate applied hairstyle, circular eyes and prick-decorated collar, hand clasped with palms to chest; repaired. 69 grams, 15 cm high



Acquired in the 1970s. Ex European private 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.