Print page | Email lot to a friend
Back to previous pageLOT 0197
Estimate
GBP (£) 4,000 - 6,000
EUR (€) 4,670 - 7,010
USD ($) 5,020 - 7,530
£1,750 (EUR 2,045; USD 2,197) (+bp*)
CIRCA 1450 B.C.
1 1/2 in. (23.8 grams, 39 mm).
A high-status green chalcedony seal with frieze depicting a seated figure in horned headdress facing a standing figure with arms outstretched, small monkey to the legs; six columns of Akkadian cuneiform text transliterated as:
1. ki-di-nu UGULA KUŠ-MEŠ
2. GAL šà tan-dru-hu-
3. ra-te-er EŠŠANA šu-ši
4. u an-za-an ARAD 5. šà dha-te-ri-iš
6. šak(?) ì-lí-šu 'Kidinu, chief overseer of the equerries(?) of Tan-Ruhurater, King of Susa and Anzan, servant of Haterishshak, his god'.
The seal's owner was an official of King Tan-Ruhurater II (circa 1450 B.C.), king of Susa and Anzan. The title used to describe Kidinu is sometimes translated 'high official', elsewhere 'horse groom' or 'animal trainer'; the Elamite deity Haterish is otherwise unknown. [No Reserve]
PROVENANCE:
From a Mayfair gallery, London, UK; previously acquired in the 1980s.
Property of a North London lady; gifted from her father's collection.
From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK.
From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent.
Accompanied by a copy of a specialist academic report dated June 2017.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12122-215563.