Loading, please wait...
LOT 1252
Mitanni Faience Cylinder Seal with Storm God
CIRCA 1500-1200 B.C.
1 in. (3.82 grams, 26 mm).
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 Faience with Green Glaze, 26.5 x 12 mm. The main scene consists of a standing man, dressed in a robe that reaches his ankles, with a decorated band passing over one shoulder. His arms are held at the waist. He faces on his left a stylized sacred tree consisting of a main stem and five brances [sic] ending in buds at the top. The remaining area is filled with two registers. The lower one consists of of a guilloche consisting of three spirals. The upper register shows two, facing, recumbent horned animals, both with heads turned back, but one with raised tail, the other with tail downwards. The whole area of design is contained within a line above and another beneath. This seal is Mitanni, c. 1500-1200 B.C., and from anywhere within the area from Syria to Western Kurdistan. It reflects the Hurrian civilization of this area, and the tree is the symbol of the storm god, Hurrian Teshub, Babylonian Adad, Hebrew Hadad or Baal. The standing figure is probably meant as a worshiper. The horned animals are well known on such seals, but while they may well be symbolic, they are not understood. The guilloche is a common item of decoration for the period. Faience is a manufactured substance, comparable to the modern porcelain. In the ground it often deteriorates over the centuries and has a powdery surface. this one, however, is in fine condition and the only mark of its age is that the glaze covering its surface has lost its colour. In this fine condition such seals are rare.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression.
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.P32.
Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert dated September 1990.
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.
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.
-
Bactrian Chlorite 'Princess' Idol
Late 3rd-early 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
Carved as a human figure in three parts: body with rows of overlapping tufts of fur, shallow socket to accept the head and broad collar below; the bald head carved from marble with semi-naturalistic detailing to the face; headdress (or wig) with a flared outer flange. 1.54 kg total, 3.9-14 cm
Acquired from a gallery in France and brought to the United Kingdom in 1982; thence by descent. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12713-235197. 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. -
Large Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger
1800-1600 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Tapering blade with raised midrib developing to a short tang pierced at the finial. 218 grams, 32.5 cm
Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. 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.
Around the 17th century BC, Hyksos craftsmen apparently invented daggers with an elongated, narrow blade of a subtriangular shape, sometimes with a mid-rib, but more often flat, and a handle cast together with the blade, flat, fairly wide, with a pronounced, sometimes sharply, more often smoothly, pommel and crossguard. Such daggers very quickly gained popularity in Mesopotamia and further to the east and northeast, as well as to the northwest, in the Aegean, and became almost the most widespread type of dagger in these regions up until the middle of the 1st millennium B.C. -
Amorite Terracotta Idol of a Standing Woman
3rd-2nd millennium B.C.Estimate: £600 - 800 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £270
Modelled in the round female figure standing with stub arms, applied breasts and pectoral cross-straps with central disc; applied collar of discs and mask with segmented detailing to eyes and reverse; mounted on a custom-made stand. 153 grams, 13.8 cm
Acquired in 1993. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss register certificate, no.S00027857. 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.
