A limestone bowl with vertical walls carved with two registers of stylised entwined snakes with scale detailing, all four heads facing left, raised ribs between, above and below the serpents. 7 1/2 in. (1.9 kg, 19 cm wide). Fine condition.

PROVENANCE:
Acquired from a gallery in France.
Kept in the UK since 1982, thence by descent.
Accompanied by scholarly note TL05427 by Dr Ronald Bonewitz.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate no.11193-188136.

LITERATURE:
Cf. Aruz, J., Art Of The First Cities, The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus, New York, 2003, pp.326-327 and p.331, for similar snakes and bowl.