Bactrian Stone Idol

Flat-section expanding hoop with a granulated triangle to each shoulder, supporting an oval bezel with granulated triangles and linear decoration, set with an uncut garnet with four claws. 4.58 grams, 24.74 mm overall, 17.72 x 16.75 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)



From a private family collection formed in the 1970s.

With a thin-walled body and flaring foot, a separately made long spout rivetted to the body; the U-shaped spout resembling the beak of a bird with stylised linear feather detailing to the gracefully curving neck, eleven domed rivets to the edges; the base of the foot with concentric circle decoration. 736 grams, 47 cm



Acquired in the 1960s. From the collection of Mr Jay Gluck (1927-2000) & Mrs Sumi Hiramoto Gluck. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12061-214190.

Jay Gluck was an American archaeologist and specialist in the history of Persian art. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1949 in Archaeology and Middle Eastern Studies. In 1966 he became director of the Asia Institute of the Pahlavi University in Iran. He is also well known for republishing the work of Arthur Upham Pope, A Survey of Persian Art.

Complete and of spherical form, containing clay 'tokens'; the outer face impressed with enigmatic motifs. 105 grams, 66 mm



Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1988. Thence by descent to family members. 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. The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. Accompanied by a copy of two previous illustrated and typed catalogue pages.

The tokens sealed within the bulla are believed to have been used as part of the accounting process in Sumerian or early Uruk agriculture.