Mesopotamian Cylinder Seal with Hunting Scene

Pillow-shaped clay tablet with dense rows of cuneiform text in two columns to each face, (79 lines in total): 1-3. x liters of beer 4 liters of bread, (for) Ili… royal messenger, when he went to … 4-6. x liters of beer x liters of bread, (for) … royal messenger when he went to (visit) the commisionar, dedicated to a judiciary case 7-10. 5 liters of beer 5 liters of bread, (for) Turam-ili royal messenger when he went (concerning) the fugitive troop from Irisagrig who have been arrested, 11-13. 3 liters of bear 2 liters of bread, (for) Ilum-bani, royal messenger when he went (concerning) the fugitive troop, slaves of the palast who have been arrested, 14. 5 liters 5 liters of bread, (for) … 15-17. 5 liters of beer 5 liters of bread, (for) Lu-BaU royal messenger, when he went to the Šubartum (land) 18-19. 5 liters of beer 5 liters of bread, (for) Šu-Ea royal messenger 20-22. 2 liters of beer 4 liters of bread, (for) Ur-Šul-pa’e, when he was in charge of the zigum-equids 23-25. 3 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Ibquša royal messenger when he went to (the city of) Zitian 26-28. 3 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) the secretary, royal messenger when he went to Dadani (the gouvernor). 20-30. 5 liters of beer 5 liters of bread, (for) Hurazi royal messenger 31-32. 3? liters of beer 2 liters of breed, (for) Šu-Eštar royal messenger 33-34. 3 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Dada the royal messenger 35-37. 3 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Dudu royal messenger when they went to (the city of) Der 38-39. 3 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Šu-Erra royal messenger 40-43. 3 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Šu-Iškur royal messenger when he left (the city of) Der to the king's place 44-45. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Narua-igidu the cook 46-47. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of breed, (for) Puzur-Šuba the cook 48-49. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Ababum the cook 50-51. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Ur-Eana 52-53. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Lu-diĝira 54-56. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Ir-Nanna 57-59. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Šu-Enlila, (who) are boatmen 60-61. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Lu-Nanna 62-64. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Namtiešta, (who) are people (working) on the boat’s bow 65-66. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Apil-nia 67-68. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Ur-Enki 69-70. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Nanna-bazige 71-74. 2 liters of beer 2 liters of bread, (for) Lu-Ninšubur, (who) are boatmen …, when the went to (fetch) the equids for the queen Total : 92 liters of beer […] 186 grams, 89 mm



Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992. Thence by descent to family members. 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. The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. Accompanied by a typed and illustrated report with translation. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12120-216213.

With frieze of standing figures, fronds, vases, scrolls, birds and other items. 2.13 grams, 15 mm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector; collection no.030. London collection, 2016.

Formed as two opposed bovines on a single narrow rectangular base; placed head-to-head with prominent horns locked; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 57 grams total, 55 mm wide including stand



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.