Old Babylonian Haematite Cylinder Seal with Presentation Scene

CIRCA 1925-1595 B.C.

3/4 in. (3 1/4 in.) (6.00 grams, 20.85 mm (50 grams total, 84 mm high including stand)).

With a central male deity (Marduk) in a Hittite gown facing right, holding a mace, facing a supplicant goddess in formal kaunakes, her right hand extended with the waters of Ea flowing from it; crescent moon above, between the figures a pillar and a flower, before na'ga, two supplicants attend with formal dress, possibly some ancient re-cutting; accompanied by a custom-made display stand and a museum-quality impression. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Ex Bedfordshire estate collection assembled during the early to mid 20th century.
Ex RH collection, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, UK.
Ex Helios Gallery antiquities, Wiltshire, UK.

Accompanied by an original Helios Gallery certificate of authenticity with stock reference no.H2934d.
Accompanied by a copy of a letter of attribution from antiquarian Phil Jones.

Literature

Cf. Briggs, B., Early Near Eastern Seals in the Yale Babylonian Collection, Yale University Press, 1981, p.319, 872, for use of water of Ea on Old Babylonian seals.

CONDITION

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LOT 0243