Luristan Decorated Bronze Bracelet

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. 23.8 grams, 39 mm



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.

With incuse frieze depicting a winged male figure wearing a tall headdress and holding a khopesh hooked sword, one foot placed on the corpse of a goat or ram, grappling with a rearing bull-headed winged beast and gripping its raised foreleg; behind, a second winged male figure with a sceptre and raised club to strike the bull-headed beast from behind; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 32.6 grams, 40 mm



From the property of late Mr SM, London, UK, 1970-1990s, thence by descent. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Including lozengiform type pierced longitudinally, and two rectangular plaques with lateral lobes pierced transversely. 18.7 grams total, 29-34 mm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.