Nabataean Decorated Red Pottery Dish

Comprising two seal matrices: one with a slender looped shank, intaglio design of a standing stylised bird next to a frond, a smaller bird above; the other with a balustered shank, intaglio design of a standing woman wearing a long robe, remains of inscription(?) in front. 24.4 grams total, 29 mm each



UK private collection before 2000. On the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.

Haematite with a seated bearded male figure in long robes and cap, hand held up and holding a cup, crescent moon above; to the front a male deity wearing long robes and a horned cap leading a male figure by the hand, male in long robes and hand held to mouth; behind a male figure in long robes and arms crossed over chest, rectangular panel with three columns of cuneiform text. 7.1 grams, 16 mm



From an important North London collection formed in the late 1980s. From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK. From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent.

Modelled in the round, the stag standing with legs firmly set, ears and antlers carefully modelled; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 291 grams total, 88 mm including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

In Anatolia, cult objects in the form of a deer found in the Royal Cemetery of Alaca Höyük, dating to the 3rd millennium B.C., suggest worship of this animal. This continued during the Hittite period where bronze statuettes of this type were widespread. The cult was widespread in the Mediterranean-Aegean world. Even on the remote island of Sardinia, similar cultic and votive statuettes were made.