Luristan Bronze Animal

Graduated group of jadeite melon beads on a silk string. 383 grams, 72 cm



Acquired on the London, UK, art market, 1990-2000s. 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.

Cylinder with cord and bead handles; 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 Red Stone with Some Cream, 30x13mm. The scene shows two kneeling worshippers, one either side of a stylized sacred tree below a winged solar disc. The seal is cut entirely with one tool, the cutting sheel, which enabled the work to be done quickly. the seal is to be dated c.900-800 B.C. and seals of this type are generally considered to be Babylonian, though this is not completely certain: they may have been made in Syria and southern Anatolia. The hands of the worshippers are in a typically Assyrian pose: one raised, one extended, but this type of seal is not generally found at Assyrian sites. The solar disc represents the storm god. Though there is some wear on the stone, the design remains quite clear and sharp.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 8.8 grams total, 8.1-29.5 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in August 1990. 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.

Pillow-shaped tablet containing a record of administrative records for arrears owed by Lugal-Ishtaran from the Bala-Offerings, at the end of day 15, it is dated to the year seven of King Amar-Suen, one side with a seal impression showing a man fighting with a rampant lion, possibly depicting Gilgamesh, cuneiform text behind the beast; the other side with cuneiform text overlapped by a seal impression in two registers showing advancing offerants with their arms raised; supplied in an old box with typed collection label to the cover. 40 grams, 45 mm



Found at Jokha, the ruin of the ancient city of Umma in Central Babylonia. Ex Edgar J. Banks (1866-1945). Purchased by Dr John Harvey Kellogg (1852-1943); by family descent to consignor. Edgar Banks was a diplomat and archaeologist upon whom the fictional character of Indiana Jones was based. Dr J.H. Kellogg was the founder of the Battle Creek Sanitarium and inventor of the Corn Flake. 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.