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Details
LOT 0213
Mitanni Hematite Cylinder Seal with Griffin Attacking Quadruped
1500-1200 B.C.
3/4 in. (6.2 grams, 19 mm).
With animals and standing figure, restrung pair of red stone beads, old handwritten label '1614'; 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 Hematite, 19.5.x9.5 mm. The design consists of one item occupying the full height of the space, the other items being in effect in two registers. The human figure is full-height, wearing a robe to the ground, holding one hand to the waist, the other up. The lower register consists mainly of two recumbent horned animals, each facing backwards towards a sacred- tree. To the right is a smaller quadruped, to the left a rosette and star. Above a griffin is attacking a quadruped, while behind. The griffin is another quadruped, but horned and recumbent. This seal is Mitanni Elaborate Style, c. 1500-1200 B.C. from Syria or north Mesopotamia. It is cut, as normal for this type of seal, mainly with the cutting wheel and drill, and is a fine example of its kind.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. [No Reserve]
Provenance
UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983.
Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in 1991.
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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LOT 0213
Mitanni Hematite Cylinder Seal with Griffin Attacking Quadruped
Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
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