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LOT 1108
Old Babylonian Terracotta Plaque from Nippur
LEVANT, CIRCA 1900-1600 B.C.
4 1/4 in. (5 1/4 in.) (116 grams total, 10.7 cm high (13.5 cm high including stand)).
Plano-convex in section with moulded offering scene depicting a man advancing to his left whilst holding out an animal, probably a goat, with four protruding legs; mounted on a custom-made stand. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1970s-1980s.
Ex Paul S. Forbes collection, Maryland, USA.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Terracotta plaques of this sort were mass- produced from moulds and represented a form of art available to a wide audience. They have been excavated in temples as well as in household shrines and private homes, and give us a mysterious glimpse into religious practices and the ideas that people valued. Their subject matter varies widely, including religious images, mythological and erotic scenes, and representations of rulers and gods.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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:
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LOT 1108
Old Babylonian Terracotta Plaque from Nippur
Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
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Western Asiatic Lead Fragment with Inscription
2nd-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Rectangular in plan with 15 lines of neatly inscribed text. 11.4 grams, 51.5 mm
Ex S.M. London collection, UK, 1970-1990s. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The item was possibly meant to be what the Romans called a defixio or 'curse tablet', on which the magical malediction was recorded and then shut away (by being tightly rolled up) so that the victim could not find it or change it. -
Western Asiatic Rock Crystal Chess Piece
15th-17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £676
Carved in the round horse-head and neck with chevron detailing to the mane; 'knight' chess-piece. 49.6 grams, 40 mm
Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Sumerian Pink Stone Cylinder Seal
Uruk Period, circa 3000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Drum-shaped with frieze of advancing ibexes; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 2.48 grams, 11.24 mm
From the 'S' collection, acquired 1970-1990s. The collection was seen and studied by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
