LOT 0247

Large Cypriot or Levantine White Marble Cylinder Seal with Nine Quadrupeds and a Scorpion

2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.

1 3/8 in. (16 grams total, seal: 36.9 mm).

Cylinder with animals, restrung red stone bead to each end; 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 White Marble, 37 x 12 mm. The glyptic shows a total of nine quadrupeds in various poses, one scorpion (?), and a few minor unidentified items. The Style of cutting shows much use of the drill, with linear representation of e.g. the animals' legs. all the various items are arranged to fill the space available very completely. This seal is not a well known type, but has similarities to seals found in Cyprus and the Levant, dating to the second half of the second millenium B.C. There was a great variety of local styles in this area and period, and the specimen being described here belongs to this category'; supplied with a museum-quality impression.

Ex Mr K. Kobayashi, Galerie Archaique Ltd, Osaka, Japan, prior to 1988.

Accompanied by a copy of an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1991.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13466-262419.

For the Mesopotamian prototypes of this scene see Buchanan, B., Early Near Eastern Seals in the Yale Babylonian Collection, New Yale and London, 1981, pp.208ff.

This cylinder seal features a worship scene adapted from Mesopotamian tradition, which typically shows a goddess leading a worshipper toward an enthroned god. However, the Levantine artist has modified this traditional theme by replacing the goddess with a male figure. In keeping with ancient art conventions, the worshipper stands before the god with hands raised in prayer.