Bactrian Style Lapis Lazuli Bead Necklace String

Leaf-shaped blade with a raised midrib, rectangular-section tang bent to a right-angle with a knop to the end. 243 grams, 34 cm



Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. 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.

A number of similar blades, some considered to be spearheads and others to be daggers, all with bent tang, derived from Tepe Hissar Culture III. Some of them, like our specimen, have a button terminal, some others have a plain, pointed terminal. The general dating of these specimens is fixed to the early 2nd millennium B.C.

Cylinder with cord and bead handles; 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 Black Stone, 31 x 19 mm. The scene consist of three figures: on the left is a god, marked out by his horned tiara, and sitting on an angular stool generally thought to represent a temple facade. Facing him is a human seated on a more practical seat, with crossing legs. Each holds a straw to a pot in the middle, from which they are or will be drinking. Behind the god stands an attendant with one hand raised. For a terminal there is a stylised tree. This is an old Akkadian drinking scene, c. 2300-2200 B.C., from Mesopotamia or south-west Iran. It is an important example because normally both figures look either divine or human, but here one, is clearly divine and the other human. The drink in the pot is beer, and straws were used because it was not strained, and all the husks of the barley were in the liquid, and were strained out by the straws.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 22.5 grams, 31 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in January 1992. 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.

Comprising: a shallow bowl with rolled rim; a footed chalice; a tall jar with narrow foot. 2.28 kg total, 13.5-21.5 cm



From a West Country collection, UK, 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.