Early Parthian Carnelian Bead with Gold End Caps

Comprising a square panel with a bull's head in low-relief, striated eyes and flaring nostrils, a thick tuft of hair arranged between the eyes, shallow acanthus leaf between curved horns, inscription on the rectangular space at the bottom of the panel; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 2.09 kg total, 19.8 cm including stand



UK collection, 1990s. Acquired on the UK art market, before 2000. Private collection, Mr M.V., a London-based businessman.

The presence of these representations in South Arabian cemeteries attests to the importance of the bull in the religious iconography of pre-Islamic Arabia.

Showing two goddesses and a worshipper; accompanied by a museum quality impression and a copy of an old scholarly note by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder seal of brown stone, 26 x 13 mm. Seated goddess to right, raising a hand, before her a minor goddess introducing a worshipper, both raising a hand. Crescent in sky. Third Dynasty of Ur, c. 2060-2000 B.C. Good engraving, very good condition.' 7.6 grams, 25 mm



From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.192. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, handwritten and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert and an old photograph.

With wheel-cut frieze of animals to the body, traces of pigment remaining. 33.59 grams, 72 mm



Ex Parisian gallery, France, 1980s. 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.