Bactrian Stone Idol

Comprising a round-section penannular body with finely-modelled beast-head terminals, each with a pellet eye and scrolled nostrils. 78 grams, 75 mm



From the property of the late Mr SM, London, UK, 1969-1999. Accompanied by a previous catalogue information slip.

Matched pair of gold earrings, each formed as two bulbs with a string of granules to the waist, loop to one end to accept a wire fastener. 5.32 grams total, 31-32 mm



From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s. Accompanied by an earlier catalogue identification card.

With a dynamic scene depicting a Shah on horseback shooting arrows from his bow; a leaping quadruped with an arrow through its neck racing in front of the galloping stocky horse; a fallen boar with an arrow on its back laying on the foreground, and another large boar charging towards the horse on the upper field; a hunting dog on the lower field and a pair of birds behind the horse; the king wearing a crown and mantle, a scabbard hanging from his waist; low foot to base; repaired. 505 grams, 21.3 cm wide



Private US collection, kept in Switzerland, since the 1960s. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00122910. 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.12023-214175.

Various are the parallels for this scene, visible on many silver plates of Sassanian and Post-Sassanian periods. Good parallels can be found with plates in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Peroz or Kavad I hunting rams, Harper & Meyers,1981, p.XII, pl.17), in the Museum fur Islamische Künst, Berlin (King hunting, Harper & Meyers,1981, pl.20) and especially with the silver-gilt plate from Nizhne Shakharovka (king hunting boars, Harper & Meyers, 1981, pl.32).