Neo Assyrian Haematite Cylinder Seal with Gods

With scorpions and restrung pair of red stone beads, old handwritten label '1628'; accompanied by an 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, 18x9.5 mm. This seal shows three rows of three scorpions, the middle row facing the opposite direction from the other two. This is a Syrian seal c. 1800-1500 B.C., of an unusual type. It is in fine state of preservation, and the insects are well engraved. The scorpion was a divine symbol ln the Ancient Near East, but in Syria it is not known of which deity it was the symbol. The design is in fact very old, being found in Jemdet Nasr seals c. 3000 B.C., and in Syria artists copied older motifs on many occasions.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 5.4 grams, 18 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in 1992. 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.

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 fossil shell. 28 x 16 mm., condition good. Contest scene: standing hero succours reared up domestic animal on either side as they are attacked by lions, a second hero pulls the tail of the right-hand lion from behind; terminal scorpion below double line. This well known type of Sumerian seal occurs at the very end of the Early Dynastic periods, and on into the beginning of the Akkad dynasty. The scene involves divine heroes, and it was hoped that in actual life such figures would save domestic herds from attacks of lions.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 14.9 grams total, 8.1-27.78 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in August 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.

With barrel-shaped body, short neck and everted rim. 1.03 kg, 15.5 cm



From a collection formed before 1990. Ex Mayfair, London, UK, gallery, 2000s. 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.