Mesopotamian Cuneiform Tablet Fragment

A bifacial sceptre head formed as a Master of Animals atop a collared tubular stem with flared foot; the finial composed of two addorsed birds standing on their backs looking up towards two birds' heads facing down and joined to slender crescentic arms representing slender beasts with ridged backs and roaring mouths, each in the grip of the Master standing crowned between them; the Master with tubular body, animal-like ears, prominent nose above a small mouth and wearing collars, neck rings and tiered headdress; waisted socket below; mounted on a display stand. 399 grams, 32.3 cm (526 grams total, 34.5 cm including stand)



Acquired between 1965-2020. Private collection, London. 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.

The small head belongs to the tubular idols with protomes of second type of ‘Master of Animals’, probably being a finial standard. This type, according to Chausidis, came to be with the gradual transformation of the ‘zoomorphic standards with a human head, whereby the front legs of the animals became integrated into the tubular pillar of the standards. It gradually began to be cast with the other elements, representing the neck and torso of the central anthropomorphic character that retained the two-faced feature of the previous type. The necks and heads of the animal pair separated from the rest of their bodies, which, in turn, gradually lost their original form and acquired new meanings.

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.

Sheet-silver female figure with tall lobed headdress, domed knees, breasts and navel, loincloth, parallel legs and tang beneath the feet; applied wire collar; the face with triangular nose and two pellet eyes; left arm detached in two pieces, with old repair. 32.1 grams total, 1.7-12.7 cm



UK private collection, formed in the 1980s. with Bonhams, London, 24 October 2012, no.271 (£8,000-£10,000). Accompanied by copies of the relevant Bonham's catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12532-231395. 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.