Details

LOT 0232

Large Middle Elamite Glass Cylinder Seal Asking for Divine Approval

CIRCA 1400-1000 B.C.

1 7/8 in. (16.60 grams, 47 mm).

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 Glass 47 x 15 mm. The main scene in the design shows a seated god on the right wearing a long robe with bottom fringe, sitting on a stool with crossing struts and holding in one hand a situla. Before him stands a servant similarly dressed and extending one hand. Between the two figures is a locust in big size and in the upper parts is a symbol. Above this scene is a band with three recumbent quadrupeds. The remainder of the space is devoted to a three-line cuneiform inscription:

garna4kišib ne May the owner of this seal
ina é-gal DU have free access to the palace
NI Ni APKIN KA

This is a Middle Elamite seal, c. 1400-1100 B.C. The design an inscription are based on Cassite-period Babylonian seals, but with Elamite rendering. This is a large seal and though the ends are chipped, it is otherwise in very good condition for ancient glass. Indeed, it is in such excellent state that one asks if it is not volcanic glass, namely obsidian. However, the pitted surface favours man-made glass, but in unusually good condition.'; a more comprehensive and up-to-date translation is:

ki dingir ti-la Life is the gift of god.
ina é-DU.DU (May he (seal owner)) have free access to the palace,
i3-li2 APKIN KA I beseech you, my god.

; supplied with a museum-quality impression.

Provenance

Acquired from Christie's, New York, USA.
From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.P51.

Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12693-236341.
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.