Neo Babylonian Bifacial Quartz Stamp Seal

A Nabataean or Hellenistic libation table with drum-shaped body and four stub legs ending in bovine hooves; circumferential bands of egg-and-dart ornament, ropework ornament to the rim, dished upper face to accept votive offerings. 19.2 kg, 25 cm



Ex Paris collection. French gallery, Paris, 1990-2000s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11927-209636.

Rooms in Greek and Roman houses were largely devoid of furniture, and instead more emphasis was given to the display of works of art: mosaic floors, wall paintings, and freestanding bronze and marble sculpture. However, domestic altars have been found in various Greek and Roman houses (especially in Pompeii). This unusual small table with its elaborate support was likely to have been used to deposit fruit, sweets and other types of small gifts as offerings. Such tables were used in all the Greek and provincial Roman world, even by the Nabataean Arabs during the Roman period.

Matched pair of hollow-formed gold earrings each formed as a series of bulbs separated by beaded wire collars and with a pair of loops to each end of the shank. 4.33 grams total, 20.8-21.2 mm



From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

With detailed frieze including a standing figure with tall helmet, raising his arm to strike a similar figure with both hands raised, bird above the scene and ankh below, smaller combat scene below with beast and kneeling figure with an axe; guilloche and other items in the field; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 4.04 grams, 18 mm



From an important London, UK, collection, 1970-1990. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.