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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.
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Anatolian Black Stone Cylinder Seal with Standing Hunter
Circa 1200-1000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
Cylinder with cord and bead handles; 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, 38 x 22.5 mm., condition very good. The stone is slightly wider at the base than the top. Scene of standing hunter (?), sideways and inverted quadrupeds, scorpion, unidentified four legged creature, lunar crescent, dot with four concentric circles around it; the whole between two rules. Syrian or Anatolian, c. 1200-1000 B.C.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 35.7 grams, 37 mm
UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in November 1988. 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. -
Western Asiatic Terracotta Jug with Zoomorphic Appliqué
Middle Bronze Age, circa 2000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Piriform in profile with discoid foot, deep shoulder, tall neck with rolled and everted rim; applied aviform figure to the shoulders with splayed wings encircling the base of the neck; possibly Cypriot workmanship. 447 grams, 17.1 cm high
Ex Constable collection, UK, 1990s. Accompanied by an old photograph with description verso. 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. -
Central Asian Bronze Stamp Seal Matrix with Standing Bird
Circa 500-100 B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
Discoid with a standing bird to the centre and loop to the rear; accompanied by typed and signed note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Bronze 24 x 24 x 13 mm. This is a flat disc cut from sheet metal with a pierced handle from the same material fixed on the back. It is round. The design shows a standing bird in the centre, something not yet identified in front of it and above it a crescent and to the side a hatched shape. The whole design is put within a circle of intertwining band. This is a rare seal from wets central Asia, c. 500-100 B.C. It is in excellent condition.' 7.9 grams, 25 mm
Ex collection of a late London gentleman, 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.
