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LOT 0248
Chalcedony Pendant Stamp Seal with Mythical Creature
CIRCA 8TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.
17/8 in. (4.71 grams, 23 mm).
An Assyrian or Urartian bell-shaped seal featuring a ribbed suspension loop attached to a stepped base; on the convex underside of the seal, there is an intricate engraving depicting a mythical creature that combines the body of an eagle with a fish tail; this hybrid creature is depicted facing to the left and holding a hare in its beak, with a snake coiled around the seal's perimeter; accompanied by a museum-quality impression and a typed and signed scholarly note issued by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Chalcedony / 23 x 14.5 mm. / This has a round, convex face, and above it is a cylinder with sharply concave sides, on top of which is (of one piece with the rest) a pierced lug with grooves over its top. The design on the base shows a standing composite creature: legs, wings and head of a bird, but body of a fish. In its beak it is holding a dead hare or other such creature. Around the design is a snake, whose body does not quite complete the circle. / This is an Urartian seal, from the ancient Kingdom of Urartu, c. 800-650 B.C. It comes from the area around Lake Van. The composite creature is a typical feature of the art of this kingdom. The snake is interesting, since it is the forerunner of the famous Ourobouros on magic gems of the period c. 100 B.C. to 200 A.D. It often appears surrounding a design, but it has its tail in its mouth. This seal has very slight chipping of the edges, but generally is in very good condition.' [No Reserve]
ProvenancePrivate collection, England, 1990.
European art market.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, New York, 6 December 2007, no.374.
From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals.
with Bonhams, London, 7 December 2021, no.64 (£3,000 - £4,000).
Accompanied by a copy of a typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.
Cf. a chrysotite Urartian loop-handled stamp seal in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, acc. no.1984.175.28, which shows a similar bird-fish hybrid monster.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Western Asiatic Agate Stamp Seal with Winged Figure
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
With intaglio scene of a profile human figure with wings(?) beside a crescent. 21.9 grams, 28 mm
Acquired between 1980-1983. From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals. -
Western Asiatic Gold Ring with Boar Gemstone
14th century A.D. and earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
With a keeled hoop and openwork shield-shaped shoulder with scroll ornament, a diamond-shaped shield with a cross to the base of the hoop; large bezel with an applied stylised bird underneath, the sides with pellet ornament in three rows, four claws holding the 4th-5th century Sassanian intaglio depicting a boar devouring the leg of its prey. 8.63 grams, 25.72 mm overall, 18.95 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 7 3/4, Europe 16.86, Japan 16)
Private collection, USA, acquired in the 1990s. Accompanied by a copy of a previous cataloguing information page.
It was a fairly common practice to re-use Sassanian intaglios in Islamic rings from Iran. In Eastern cultures the boar was a sacred animal with magical powers. -
Sumerian Pictographic Tablet
4th millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,050
Of lentoid cross-section with impressed grid and characters or ideograms, an economic text relating to farm produce written over two faces. 113 grams, 89 mm
Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992. 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. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12093-213020.
