Graeco-Persian Bronze Vessel

A plaque depicting a stylised man and woman conjoined at hips, flanking a small child holding their legs, the woman with large head and long hair, holding her breasts, the man wearing a loin cloth and conical headdress, holding the woman by the arm. 30 grams, 70 mm

Fine condition.

Ex property of a Dutch gentleman; formerly in an old Dutch collection formed in the 1970s. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent. 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.

Cylinder with standing male figure with a pair of animals to each side, restrung pair of red stone beads, old handwritten label '1647'; 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 Cream Fossil Shell, 37 x 22 mm. In the centre stands a divine hero, nude, and gripping the neck of a horned animal on either side, each of which is being attacked by a lion with erect tail. For a terminal there stands a tall tree. This is an early Akkadian seal from Mesopotamia or West Iran, c. 2300 B.C. The symbolism comes from temple herds, which were liable to be attacked by lions at this time. They believed that certain gods and divine heroes could rescue their animals from such attacks, and by showing such scene on their seals they hoped to achieve the result be sympathetic magic.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 37.6 grams, 37 mm



Armand Trampitsch, Glyptique Archéologie, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 13-14 May 1992, no.23 [Part]. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in 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.

With carinated hoop, heater-shaped plaques to the shoulders, hexagonal bezel with pellet to each angle and reserved calligraphic legend. 9.03 grams, 23.84 mm overall, 19.40 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)



From a central European collection. Mr S.A., acquired in 1992. Thence by descent, family collection, since the late 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.