Mesopotamian Stone Pig Amulet

Cylinder with standing figures and animals, restrung pair of red stone beads, old handwritten label '1659'; 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 Black Stone, 40.5 x 19.5 mm. The deeply engraved design shows two warrior gods, standing, wearing short kilts with one hand raised the other holding an object the one holding a spear, the other an unidentified item represented by a vertical line. Before each standing warrior god is a sideways horned animal in one case and a sideways donkey in the other. There is a row of symbols along the top of the area: a circle with cross inside, an inverted crescent and dot, and a bull's head. There are horizontal rulings above and below the scene. This is a North Syrian or Anatolian seal c. 2000-1800 B.C. This is a rare type, and a nice example. The points on the top of the heads of the gods are no doubt spiked helmets, and the short kilt also fits the Anatolian storm god, which was worshipped in a variety of different forms. The style of engraving is deep but uncluttered and has a considerable charm.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 30.8 grams, 40 mm



Armand Trampitsch, Glyptique Archéologie, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 13-14 May 1992, no.23 [Part]. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in 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.

With geometric pattern including a segmented octofoil, two vesica motifs with pellets to the centre and concentric bands outside, lozenge with parallel bands and others. 6.32 grams, 30 mm



From the 'S' collection, acquired 1970-1990s. The collection was seen and studied by W.G.Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993. 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.

Human form with two heads; the eyes and breasts domed with round recesses, the headdresses and necklaces separately applied, formed with vertical strokes; ledge hand to each side; the lower body extending to a conical base. 109 grams, 17.6 cm

Very fine condition.

Property of a retired English university professor; acquired on the UK art market in 2013. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent. 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.