Bactrian Stone Coiled Snake Amulet

Feline with stocky body, erect tail, thick neck developing to a flat head, loop handle from the shoulder to the rump; painted with bands of geometric designs, facial detailing to the head; mounted on a hollow rectangular block with painted hatching to the upper face and edges. 1.46 kg, 16.5 cm



From the Steel family collection, 1950s-late 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.

Tubular in plan with three flat legs and D-shaped feet, reserved calligraphic text to the sidewall and the perforated partial dome above, bird-heads to the frame and knop above. 356 grams, 17 cm



Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. 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.

Accompanied by a copy of 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 Glass 47 x 15 mm. The main scene in the design shows a seated god on the right wearing a long robe with bottom fringe, sitting on a stool with crossing struts and holding in one hand a situla. Before him stands a servant similarly dressed and extending one hand. Between the two figures is a locust in big size and in the upper parts is a symbol. Above this scene is a band with three recumbent quadrupeds. The remainder of the space is devoted to a three-line cuneiform inscription: garna4kišib ne May the owner of this seal ina é-gal DU have free access to the palace NI Ni APKIN KA This is a Middle Elamite seal, c. 1400-1100 B.C. The design an inscription are based on Cassite-period Babylonian seals, but with Elamite rendering. This is a large seal and though the ends are chipped, it is otherwise in very good condition for ancient glass. Indeed, it is in such excellent state that one asks if it is not volcanic glass, namely obsidian. However, the pitted surface favours man-made glass, but in unusually good condition.'; a more comprehensive and up-to-date translation is: ki dingir ti-la Life is the gift of god. ina é-DU.DU (May he (seal owner)) have free access to the palace, i3-li2 APKIN KA I beseech you, my god. ; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 16.60 grams, 47 mm



Acquired from Christie's, New York, USA. From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.P51. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12693-236341. 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.