Old Babylonian Carnelian Frog Amulet on Gold Earring

Rebound hardback with full leather binding, central arabesque foliage panel to both covers, fore-edge flap and envelope flap; title page with liquid gold panel inside a frame with cross and colon detailing (:+:); text pages with concentric red, black and liquid gold frame and typically 17 lines of black text with red titles and highlighting, marginal notation; liquid gold header blocks, occasional dense marginal notation; notation to underside of text-block; spine repaired. 587 grams, 11.5 x 16.7 cm



From an important family collection started in the late 1950s. Property of a West London, UK, gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12275-220403.

The text is 'Kitab matalle ammasaraat snarh dalayii alkhayrat' (The Book of Ascension of Delights, Explanation of the Evidences of Goodness) compiled by the Sheikh, writer and historian Muhammad al-Mahdi ibn Ahmad Al-Fasi who died in 1109 A.H. (1697 A.D.) written out by the poet Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Saleh ibn Omar Pasha al-Dimashqi in 1162 A.H. (1748 A.D.).

Mainly pottery and some glass, annular, tubular, fusiform and other types. 43.6 grams total, 2-20 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

Including a squat dipper cup with applied boss to the shoulder, a jar with rounded underside, and other types. 780 grams total, 8-16 cm



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.