Mesopotamian Terracotta Plaque with Nergal

Broad and squat with impressed guilloche below the inner rim, repoussé frieze with fleeing ibex attacked by a gryphon and kneeling archer to the rear; central rosette; seven incised characters to inner face and four to outer face. 277 grams, 15.5 cm



The Saleh Collection, Germany, formed 1972. Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12809-241324. 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 presence of decorated bronze bowls during the later Pre-Islamic period, mainly in the territories of the modern Emirates, is well documented. Many decorated bowls and bowl fragments were discovered at Mleiha, one or more possible fragments were found at ed-Dur and a single bowl comes from a Pre-Islamic period C tomb in Dibba. They are also similar to the so-called Phoenician - or more correctly Levantine - bowls produced in the 9th-early 7th century B.C. They combine local Levantine elements with imagery borrowed from Mesopotamia and Egypt, and local Arabian themes, such as camel and horse riding, often composed in radial zones.

Openwork stamp with loop handle; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Bronze 36x33x13 mm. This is flat, compartmented and open-work, with a handle of inverted V-shape on the back. The design is a linear pattern: to each end is a horizontal straight line, the two being joined by pairs of diagonal lines from them crossing in the middle and creating a row of one rhomb and two triangles in the middle. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It is a nice example of its kind and in very good condition.' 10 grams, 36 mm



From the collection of the late Mr S, 1970-1990s. Accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, 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.

Comprising a rounded body with narrow base, flared neck and mouth with rounded rim, strap handle to rear; painted with a geometric design of rectangular panels with reticulated fill. 745 grams, 16 cm



Ex Swiss European collection, 1980s. Private collection, 1994. Private collection, since the late 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.