Large Luristan Bronze Spearhead

Squat lotiform bowl with wide everted rim, central domed mesomphalos with rosette detailing, traces of gilding. 283 grams, 20.7 cm wide



English private collection, formed 1940s. Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12795-241325. 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.

This bowl is possibly part of a set of nearly identical vessels, probably used at the table of royal Satrapes. Persian governors used banquets to display their wealth and power by imitating the royal banquets. It was a greater honour for them to receive a drinking vessel such as this as a gift from the King of the Kings – establishing one’s status as a royal dinner guest. No doubt it took practice to drink adeptly from a vessel like this: however the omphalos in the base would have made it easier to hold with one hand, with the middle finger hooked inside the indentation and the thumb stretched out to grip the vessel at or near the rim.

Pillow-shaped tablet fragment with script to one face; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Portion of Clay tablet with Pictographic Script. 57x48 mm. This is an oblong tablet with rounded side and corners. Most of the obverse is preserved, only the top and left edges are missing. Most of the surface of the reverse is lost, but it was not written so the loss is not important. The obverse is divided into three columns, the first being a double column: each compartment has a smaller one beside it with figures alone. This is an administrative document from some town in Sumer, dating to the Jemdet Nasr period, c. 3000 B.C. Not everything can yet be understood, but some things are clear. The purpose of the double column is not known, but in the second column there are two immediately clear lines: 30 sheep; 1 (or:60) goat(s) The first two columns and the beginning of the third consist of compartments with signs for things and numbers, but the rest of the last column has more complex writing devices, and must be some kind of different statement. such as the name of the official in charge of the things listed, or the name of the office dealing with these matters, or also the name of the place where this listing was made. This tablet has been conserved by firing, and is in good condition.' 39 grams, 58 mm



Ex private collection of Mr S H; thence by descent,1980-1990. Accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993. 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.

Biconical in profile with narrow base, broad shoulder and everted flared rim; painted concentric herringbone band to the shoulder and swags beneath. 712 grams, 18 cm wide



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12258-222363. 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.