Bactrian Gold Pendant

With figural frieze between two borders of guilloche ornament: central hero-figure with axe in one raised hand, the other gripping the foreleg of a winged rampant gryphon, with recumbent goat at his feet; behind, radiant sun above a monkey sitting on the rump of a horse with a second gryphon attacking; opposed rampant ibexes flanking a tree; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 65.7 grams, 44 mm



From the property of late Mr SM, London, UK, 1970-1990s, thence by descent. 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.

Amulet of a deity in human form wearing a pointed cap and pleated kilt, hands placed on the chest supporting coiled serpent (or staff), ledge to rear; possibly Tarḫunna, the Hittite weather-god. 3.9 grams, 29 mm



From the Bavarian private collection of F.U., Germany, before 2000. Acquired Gorny & Mosch, 17 June 2015, lot 246. Property of a French collector. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Gorny & Mosch catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12123-214885.

The proper name of the weather god is not known, as it was expressed with an ideogram in the texts; his name was probably Tarhunna, from Hattic Taru. Among the Luwians he was called Datta and Tarhunt. The Hittite province of Tarhuntassa, south of the heartland of the Hittite Empire, took its name from the latter: 'land of the weather god'.

With frieze depicting three scorpions, four fishes and other items in themed groups; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 2.58 grams, 16 mm



From the 'S' collection, acquired 1970-1990s. The collection was seen and studied by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.