Old Babylonian Carnelian Frog Amulet on Gold Earring

With plain globular body, circular short shaft expanding to a circular flat base. 435 grams, 81 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

The mace in the Middle East was of great importance, and widely used in fighting activities at the end of the 4th millennium B.C. Many maces of simple spherical or pear-shaped profile have been found there, and they were quickly utilised by the military commanders as symbol of power and rank; limestone maces are still attested in the Marlik culture of 14th-10th century B.C.

Comprising: hexafoil strap- or belt-fitting with panels of scrolled tendrils and reserved petals, reverse damaged; tongue-shaped hollow strap-end with openwork arabesque finial, bands of scrolled tendrils to obverse, incised arabesque to reverse; two rectangular belt mounts each with openwork obverse, hanged looped fitting to lower edge; four discoid mounts with three pierced lugs; two triangular plaques with openwork scrolled tendril design, pin to each angle; spherical dangle; ribbed scaphoid dangle; openwork hoop with scrolled tendrils; annular mount with ropework motif to obverse. 45 grams total, 9-49 mm



Mr M.B., Mainz, Germany, since the 1980s. Private collection, London. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr. Jack Ogden of Strptwist Ltd, reference 190623 with description of the items and the techniques used to produce them, and the metallic composition of the gold (56.36% to 64.25% on the items tested).

Leather-bound with handwritten texts in black and red ink, first four pages decorated. 14 grams, 25 mm



Acquired in the 1970s. Property of a London lady, part of her family's collection.