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 Cream Stone. 24 x 12 mm. The design, which is put between upper and lower rulings, shows a walking bull facing a stylized sacred tree: a straight trunk with five-branch crown, surrounded by scalloped line supporting seven leaves. There is a rhomb between bull and tree, and a star and Maltese cross above the bull's back. This is a Neo-Assyrian seal, c.800-600 B.C. It is one of the rarer types, deeply cut, and in good condition. The bull and the tree are both symbols of the storm god Adad, who had an important place in the Neo-Assyrian pantheon. The star is the symbol of Ishtar/Venus, also an important Assyrian deity, but the Maltese cross is so far not certainly identified.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression.

PROVENANCE:
From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.590/2.

Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert.
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.