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LOT 0206
Babylonian Head of Humbaba
900-700 B.C.
4 1/2 in. (128 grams total, 11.5 cm including stand).
Modelled in the half-round with hollow reverse; thick band of hair above the brow, small deep-set eyes, broad nose and mouth with three raised bands extending to a short beard; mounted on a custom-made stand.
ProvenanceLondon art market, 1995.
Private collection, Switzerland.
Private collection, London.
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.12971-245208.
Cf. The British Museum, museum numbers 127443 and 128821, for comparable Humbaba faces; see Moorey, P. R. S., The Terracotta Plaques from Kish and Hursagkalama, c. 1850 to 1650 B.C., Iraq, vol.37, no.2, 1975, pp.79-99.
FootnotesHumbaba (or Huwawa) was a demon of Mesopotamian legend, most famously described in the Epic of Gilgamesh. He was appointed by the god Enlil as the terrifying guardian of the Cedar Forest, a place of the gods. His grotesque features, with glaring eyes and monstrous expressions, were said to strike fear into anyone who saw him. Babylonian representations of Humbaba often emphasise this fierce appearance, with distorted facial traits designed to ward off evil. Such images could serve an apotropaic purpose, protecting people and places from harm, while also evoking one of the most memorable figures of Babylonian mythology.
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Western Asiatic Royal Stamped Terracotta Jar Handle
Late 8th century B.C.Estimate: £250 - 350 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £125
The handle fragment from a Tufnell type 484 jar, bearing an oval stamp to the upper handle. 129 grams, 10 cm
Ex S.M. London collection, UK, 1970-1990s. Accompanied by a description from Peter Gert Van der Veen, senior lecturer of Levantine Archaeology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz. 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. -
Achaemenid Silver Dish
Circa 500-400 B.C.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £400
Shallow with thickened rim; encrustations to the outer face. 396 grams, 21 cm wide
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11631-199032. -
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection
12th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Including triangular, barbed-and-tanged, leaf-shaped, and other types. 266 grams total, 49-108 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.
Some of these arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory types A, C and D according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes C and D of type V are larger arrow or javelin heads, C with barbed shoulders and D with round shoulders. Subtype A is substantially similar to C, but smaller.
