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LOT 0253
Early Bronze Age Silver Idol
CIRCA 2400-2100 B.C.
2 1/2 in. (5.34 grams, 62 mm).
Violin-shaped with round body, long neck and stylised head, symbolising a female body, perforated with two holes at the top representing the eyes, embossed with dots around the perimeter.
ProvenanceFrom a private family collection formed since the early 19th century, thence by descent.
Property of a New Zealand legal professional.
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.12321-223719.
Cf. for similar idols but in stone and clay, Bilgi, Ö., Anthropomorphic Representations in Anatolia before the Classical Age, Istanbul, 2014, figs. 792-800; for metallic idols of very similar (although not completely identical) shape cf. Zimmermann, T., ‘Anatolia and the Balkans, once again, ring-shaped idols from Western Asia and a critical reassessment of some ‘Early Bronze Age items from Ikiztepe, Turkey’ in Oxford Journal of Archaeology, January, 2007, pp.25-32; Atakuman, Ç., ‘Figurines of the Anatolian Early Bronze Age: the assemblage from Koçumbeli-Ankara’ in Anatolian Studies, 67, 2017, pp.85-108.
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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LOT 0253
Early Bronze Age Silver Idol
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000€1,740 - 2,320 (for guidance only)$2,030 - 2,700 (for guidance only)
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Proto-Sumerian Pictographic Tablet
Uruk III, circa 3200-3000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,800
Tongue-shaped plaque, lentoid in section with segmented layout to each face, impressed pellets and geometric figures; supplied with a display stand. 155 grams, 10.3 cm (251 grams total, 11.2 cm high including stand)
From an important collection formed before 1988. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and 1990s. Ex J.L. collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12418-226307. -
Luristan Bronze Dagger Blade
Circa 1000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
With lentoid section blade tapering to a point; the hilt hollowed both sides to accept an organic handle. 70 grams, 27.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The dirk belongs to type I of the Medveskaya classification. This type of weapon is very common among daggers and dirks attributed to Luristan. According to Moorey, the typology was used in Western Iran at least from 13th century B.C. and remained in use at least until the late 9th century B.C. -
Luristan Bronze Arrows and Blades Group
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
Including barbed-and-tanged and leaf-shaped arrowheads and other types. 186 grams total, 7.3-15 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.