Loading, please wait...

Bactrian Manuscript Fragment of a Letter Bactrian Manuscript Fragment of a Letter Bactrian Manuscript Fragment of a Letter
Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge
Details

LOT 1351

Bactrian Manuscript Fragment of a Letter

6TH-7TH CENTURY AD

6 in. (5.57 grams, 15.5 cm).

A near-complete fragment of a letter in Avestan on leather, recto bearing eight lines of cursive script, faded but largely undamaged; verso bearing traces of at least two lines of text; irregular in shape.

Provenance

Collection of Bruce Ferrini, USA.
Central London gallery, acquired c.1994.
Property of a UK collector.

For UK buyers only, this item is not exportable from the UK.

Published

Sims-Williams, N., Bactrian Documents from Northern Afghanistan II: Letters and Buddhist Texts (Studies in the Khalili Collections Volume III), London: The Nour Foundation, 2012, pp.24, 106-107, and Bactrian Documents III: pl.169b, 170a.

CONDITION
VETTING:

TimeLine 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:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 1351

Bactrian Manuscript Fragment of a Letter

Sold for (Inc. bp): £468

Print page

RELATED LOTS
  • Western Asiatic Bone Cylinder Seal with Chevrons
    Western Asiatic Bone Cylinder Seal with Chevrons
    3rd-2nd millennium B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £91

    Slender cylinder seal with concentric chevrons with pellets in two registers; accompanied by a museum quality impression. 2.12 grams, 29 mm



    Acquired in the 1980s-2000s. From an important London, UK, collection.

    Lot Details

  • Western Asiatic Royal Stamped Terracotta Jar Handle
    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.

    Lot Details

  • Western Asiatic Stone Bowl with Birds
    Western Asiatic Stone Bowl with Birds
    3rd millennium B.C.

    Estimate: £3,000 - 4,000 (‡+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £1,600

    Hemispherical in profile with narrow rim, frieze of perching birds in relief, each with a pellet eye, stub beak, large comma-shaped hatched wing and leg held horizontally beneath the body; rim chipped. 273 grams, 11.2 cm



    with Holy Lands House, Israel, 1960s. Private collection, 2005. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate no.12595-232195.

    The chlorite stone vessels of early Bactria were kidney-shaped vessels with simple geometric decoration or, like our specimen, semi-circular. Small cylindrical vases were used as cosmetic containers, together with chlorite cosmetic flasks.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list