Luristan Bronze Pomegranate-Shaped Bell

Comprising a quantity of mixed beads in lapis lazuli, shell, carnelian, agate, glass, ceramic and others. 87 grams total, 3-19 mm



UK gallery, early 2000s.

There are mainly two types of beads, drawn beads (when the tubes are cut in a short segments, which are usually agitated over heat to smooth off the sharp edges) or wound beads (made by wrapping molten glass around a rock, stick or wire). Once the bead is formed, it can be further pressed or paddled into shape, placed in a mould, or decorated with other colours of glass.

Rebound as a hardback with full leather binding, central arabesque foliage panel to covers; 16 laid-paper page; title page with rectangular-red-ink frame and title blocks and panels of naskh text below a triangular panel of scrolled foliage ornament; text pages with red-framed rectangular blocks of black-ink text with red headers, occasional marginal notation, disc stamps to first and last pages. 171 grams, 14 x 23 cm



From an important family collection started in the late 1950s. Property of a West London, UK, gentleman.

The text is the Book of Allibab al Maenari on Philosophy by the Philosopher Hussain bin Ali Al-Kashif Al-Baihaqi; once the property of Judge Ahmed Nazif in Belgrade in the 18th century A.D.

Squat biconvex jar with short neck and broad flat mouth; shoulder and body decorated with dense array of radiating combed lines, interrupted at the equator by a herringbone-pattern band, '4' shaped herringbone motif to the underside. 322 grams, 12.3 cm



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.12257-222364.