Loading, please wait...
LOT 0202
Old Babylonian Cylinder Seal of Ili-iddinam, Servant of the Goddess Nin-si'anna
CIRCA 1900-1600 B.C.
1 1/4 in. (17 grams, 31 mm).
With three standing figures; accompanied by 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 Black Stone with White Streaks / 31 x 17 mm. / The design consists of three standing figures: a god in short clothes on the right, a worshipper in long robe raising one hand in the middle, and a nude female shown frontally on the left. A spade symbol appears in front of the god on the right. A two line cuneiform inscription names the ancient seal-owner: Ili-iddinam, servant of (the goddess) Nin-si'anna / Nin-si'anna is a name of Ishter-Venus. This is an Old Babylonian seal, c. 1900-1600 B.C. It has a rare stone for the period, but is not deeply cut. The seal is in very good state of preservation.' [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcademically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s.
From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK.
From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent.
Accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
LOT 0202
Old Babylonian Cylinder Seal of Ili-iddinam, Servant of the Goddess Nin-si'anna
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,105
-
Mesopotamian Cuneiform Tablet Fragment Group
2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Group of two pillow-shaped clay tablets each with cuneiform text to both broad faces; repaired. 123 grams total, 55-58 mm
Specialised 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. This small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. -
.jpg)
Early Dynastic Cylinder Seal with Combat Scene
Late 3rd-early 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,470
Lapis lazuli with the figure of a standing figure with bull head, human body, bull legs and tail, holding a pair of standing ibex by the heads; a standing naked male with radiate headdress and holding a pair of rearing lions by the necks; a standing figure with bull head and legs holding a rearing goat; a standing figure with bull head and legs and holding a pair of rearing ibex. 7.63 grams, 18 mm
From an important London collection; formed before 1990. From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK. From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent. -
Sumerian Lipit-Ishtar King of Isin Cuneiform Foundation Cone
1936-1926 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
From the House of Justice at Isin; inscribed with columns of cuneiform text: I, (the divine) Lipit-Eštar, humble shepherd of (the city of) Nippur, faithful farmer of (the city of) Ur, tireless worker for (the city of) Eridu, perfect Lord for (the city of) Uruk, King of (the city of) Isin, King of Sumer and Akkad, who pleases (the goddess) Innana, on the day I established justice in Sumer and Akkad, I built the temple of justice at the Reservoir, the great space of the gods; and bearing inked collection number: 'BEC.2 00015024' to base. 158 grams, 11.3 cm
Previously from the estate of a West Sussex, UK, collector. From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK. From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12314-215541.
Votive cones are one type of royal foundation deposit, objects that were buried in the walls and beneath the floors of important buildings during construction to sanctify the site and to create a historical memory of the ruler and his achievements. Lipit-Ishtar was the fifth king of the Dynasty of Isin, which was founded after the collapse of the Third Dynasty of Ur. He is famous as having published a series of laws in the Sumerian language anticipating the code of Hammurabi by more than a century.
