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LOT 0207
Old Babylonian Clay Cuneiform Tablet Bearing Royal Letter To Iluni King of Eshnunna
CIRCA LATE 18TH CENTURY B.C.
4 1/4 in. (238 grams, 11 cm).
Written over two principal faces and two side edges: 'From Warassa to Iluni comprising: 1. Usual greetings. 2. The king of Der asks Iluni to provide him with men because he lacks manpower to do the harvest. He offers to retain an escort when it returns from Susa. 2. Warassa justifies the small amount of copper he sent to Iluni at his request. The stock of copper in the palace of Der is empty and what was left had to be used for the manufacture of ex-voto for the god Ištaran. The remission of debts also contributed to the impoverishment of the palace. Nevertheless, Warassa bought copper and sent it to Ešnunna, which amounts to 5 talents. 4. A sum of money is sent to Iluni in exchange for the sending of 5 young people who will enter the service of the palace.' (M. Guichard).
ProvenanceSpecialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992.
Thence by descent to family members.
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.
The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no. 201148.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0207
Old Babylonian Clay Cuneiform Tablet Bearing Royal Letter To Iluni King of Eshnunna
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,925
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Western Asiatic Stone Kohl Pot with Inscription
1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £700 - 900 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £389
Serpentine or chlorite of broadly cylindrical form with a gently tapering sidewall, rolled rim, slightly convex base and later incised panel of earlier cuneiform text. 35.7 grams, 36 mm high
French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. -
Western Asiatic White Stone Macehead
4th millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Drilled for attachment to a wooden shaft. 297 grams, 63 mm wide
Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister. -
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Important Western Asiatic Royal Cuneiform Nail of King Lipit-Eshtar of Isin
Circa 1934-1924 B.C.Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £750
The surviving fragment comprising a tapering cylindrical body and splayed head, bearing Akkadian text to both the head and stem. 793 grams, 10 cm
From an important collection pre 1988. Private collection, London, UK, 1990s-2000s. J.L. collection, Surrey, UK, 2000s.
This clay cone was inscribed with a dedication of Lipit-Eshtar, who ruled the city of Isin in southern Mesopotamia circa 1934-1924 B.C. This cone was probably created for the construction of a temple (the E-ninisa, 'House of Justice') at Namgarum.
