Jemdet Nasr Haematite Cylinder Seal

A bronze seal in the form of a standing pig, accompanied by a typed and signed note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 37 x 61 x 14mm. This has the shape of a standing pig, with no ears marked, but with a short tail and big round eye. Its snout is raised. The seal has a flat, compartmented face, and flat back on which a handle of sheet metal is mounted. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It has a rare and attractive design, and is in very good condition save that the hind leg is broken off. The metal has been conserved.' 37 grams, 61 mm



Ex Signo collection, the property of a West London businessman, formed in the late 1980s-early 1990s; collection number R-770, academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s.

Comprising: six specimens with a tapering round-section shank, balustered finial topped with a conical head, fastening holes; four specimens with tapering round section, poppy-shaped head and flared collar beneath. 714 grams total, 14.1-41.7 cm



From a collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

According to the study of Moorey, the knobbed pins from Iran are documented from the earliest periods of metallurgy, increasing in quantity during the late 2nd millennium, to reach the peak of the production from the early 1st millennium. Pins were used as hair and clothing fasteners, but it is not excluded that they could have been used by women as personal means of defence in dangerous situations.

Comprising: hexafoil strap- or belt-fitting with panels of scrolled tendrils and reserved petals, reverse damaged; tongue-shaped hollow strap-end with openwork arabesque finial, bands of scrolled tendrils to obverse, incised arabesque to reverse; two rectangular belt mounts each with openwork obverse, hanged looped fitting to lower edge; four discoid mounts with three pierced lugs; two triangular plaques with openwork scrolled tendril design, pin to each angle; spherical dangle; ribbed scaphoid dangle; openwork hoop with scrolled tendrils; annular mount with ropework motif to obverse. 45 grams total, 9-49 mm



Mr M.B., Mainz, Germany, since the 1980s. Private collection, London. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr. Jack Ogden of Strptwist Ltd, reference 190623 with description of the items and the techniques used to produce them, and the metallic composition of the gold (56.36% to 64.25% on the items tested).