Mesopotamian Alabaster Bowl

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 in Fawn Stone, Concave, 25 x 12.5 mm. The main figures are three; a nude female frontally shown save for her head, which is sideways; facing her a standing figure in a long fringed robe, with one arm awkwardly placed behind him; on the other side of the nude female a kneeling figure holding up a bull by the hind leg. Above the main scene are two browsing quadrupeds, one clearly a stag. Between the nude female and the figure on the left is a head of a horned animal. A second such animal's head above a sideways browsing stag forms a terminal. The whole design is placed between two lines. The seal is Mitanni, c 1400-1200 B.C., from anywhere between the eastern Mediterranean and Kurdistan. It has a very full design and looks like a "common style", but it is cut on stone, not made of frit, and the design is very deeply cut so that a fine, well-rounded impression is given. Also, being of stone, it is more durable than those of frit. Though there is some wear, the deep outlining means that nothing has been lost as a result.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 6.34 grams, 25 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in July 1991. 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.

Modelled in the round with transverse piercing behind the shoulder. 2.72 grams, 17 mm



Acquired before 1983. Ex London gallery, 1990s. 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 Translucent Green Stone 28 x 21 mm. The design consists of three rows of three fish, two rows moving in one direction, one row moving in the other direction. Tis is a seal in the Jemdet Nasr Style, dating to c. 3000 B.C., from Sumer or south west Iran. the design is deeply cut and the seal is in very good state of preservation. The fish is probably a symbol of the god Enki god of the waters below the earth, and in later periods of art often associated with fish.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 22.7 grams, 28 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in May 1992. 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.