Oxus Culture Terracotta Jar

Representing a god in short mantle and round cap with upturned brim, holding a mace in his left hand, before him a goddess standing in a horned crown and kaunakes, her hands raised in supplication; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 8.96 grams, 27 mm



Ex Mr J.K. collection, USA. Acquired from the above, 1997. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12581-232131.

The seals of the First Isin Dynasty were much more varied than those just preceding the Third Dynasty of Ur. Often the chief god - probably Shamash - is standing, and the 'introducing' goddess is facing him, while the worshipper is not pictured. The seals are a mine for the understanding of the old Babylonian costume. The tunic of the female goddess here is made of tufted material that the Greeks called kaunakes, the weave of which imitated the effect of the earlier sheepskin costumes.

Of rounded form on short foot with everted lip, each with hatched decoration on the reverse; one with stylised palmettes on dense dotted and hatched ground; the other with radial composition with floral branches; restored. 598 grams total, 18-19.2 cm



with Christie's, South Kensington, Art & Textiles of The Islamic & Indian Worlds, 8 April 2011, no.142. Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12723-235153.

Square in section with segmented body and forked end; possibly a yarn-winding tool. 50 grams, 10.6 cm



with Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983. Ex private North American collection. London private collection, 2016.