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LOT 0850
Miniature Tel Brak Marble Eye Idol
CIRCA 3100-3000 B.C.
5/8 in. (2.92 grams, 18 mm).
A miniature marble 'eye' idol composed of a squat, carinated body and two piercings to the head. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1960-2010.
Old French collection of Dr Delattre, who collected principally prehistoric objects but also ancient bronzes, natural history and curiosity around the world.
Property of a French collector.
Cf. The Louvre Museum, accession number SB 9141, for similar.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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:
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Western Asiatic Gold Earrings
2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £381
A matching pair of gold earrings, each composed of a tapering penannular hoop with a pendant formed as two graduated bulbs with pyramid granule finial. 2.47 grams, 31-32 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman. -
Western Asiatic Stone Bead Necklace
1st millennium B.C. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £46
A restrung designer necklace composed mainly of graduated pottery, glass and stone beads of various dates, types and colours, including a central piriform bead. 16.6 grams, 73 cm long
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Old Babylonian Cuneiform Letter from King Illuni to Inzuršakšu King of Niqqum About Being Attacked by the Elamites
Circa 1730-1720 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,200
A rectangular bifacial clay tablet bearing cuneiform text to both principal faces and two side edges; a letter from Iluni, king of Ešnunna, to Inzuršakšu, king of Niqqum; Iluni answered to a letter from his ally who accused him of not having respected their agreements by not sending him an army as he had asked in a letter; he says he is attacked by the Elamites (neighbors of Niqqum), Iluni defends himself and considers that it is on the contrary Inzuršakšu who is in his wrong, he accuses him indeed not only of being the aggressor, but also of wanting to push him to enter in conflict with the Elamites, whom he was indeed himself a vassal, an incomplete draft of this letter was already known; excerpts: 'About the Elamite troop which rose against my country I had written to you to send me a reinforcement troop but you did not send me any troop. You have therefore violated your divine oath (...). This is what you have just written to me. It is you who have just violated your divine oath! Now you are willing to do bad things to this country and you want me to be angry with the Elamites. (...)' 179 grams, 94 mm wide
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.
A draft of this message was already known but the present one gives a more complete version.