Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 1231
Mesopotamian Stone Frog Amulet
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
1 in. (5.56 grams, 26 mm).
Modelled as a crouching frog with anatomical detailing, pierced longitudinally.
Provenance
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
Footnotes
Frog amulets in ancient Egypt symbolised fertility, rebirth, and regeneration. Associated with the goddess Heqet, who was linked to childbirth and life-giving forces, these amulets were particularly popular in contexts related to fertility and protection during pregnancy and childbirth. Their connection to the annual Nile flood, which brought new life to the land, further emphasised their symbolism of renewal and abundance.
CONDITIONVETTING:
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
RELATED LOTS
-
Achaemenid Gold Appliques Depicting Winged Lions
5th-4th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
Comprising seven circular mounts, each with a repoussé winged lion, depicted in a seated pose with its head turned, pierced thrice through the outer rim. 1.92 grams total, 15 mm each
Private English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Private collection, UK.
Gold held immense significance in the Achaemenid Empire, not only as a symbol of wealth and divine favour but also as a practical medium for art, currency, and royal regalia. It was used in architectural decoration, lavish court objects, jewellery, and ceremonial ware, often reflecting the empire’s vast wealth and cosmopolitan reach. Among the prominent motifs in Achaemenid art is the lion-griffin—a mythical creature combining the body of a lion with the wings of an eagle. This powerful image, frequently seen in gold appliqués, seals, and metalwork, conveyed themes of imperial power, protection, and control over both terrestrial and celestial realms. The lion-griffin stood as an emblem of dominance and guardianship, befitting the grandeur of Persia’s imperial ideology. -
Western Asiatic Stone and Faience Cylinder Seal Group
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £585
Comprising: a faience cylinder seal with a standing figure and two opposing stags; a black stone cylinder seal with a standing figure; a hematite cylinder seal with worshipping scene; a black stone cylinder seal with contest(?) scene; a green stone cylinder seal with an ibex and two bird figures; a large fragment of a grey stone cylinder seal. 55 grams total, 19-41 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. -
Western Asiatic Black Stone Kohl Pot with Geometric Design
2nd millennium B.C. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £169
Bifacial with suspension loops and three tubular chambers, both broad faces with incised geometric pattern of squares and chevrons in a grid. 173 grams, 77 mm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.