Proto-Sumerian Pictographic Tablet for Amounts of Barley

Hardback with quarter-calf binding and cloth-covered boards; title page with naskh script text in a triangular block; text pages typically 18 lines of loose black-ink script inside hand-drawn bilinear frames with red titles and diacritics, ru'qah script headings, text figures, diagrams, numerical and text tables, perpendicular text-blocks; usage wear. 468 grams, 20.3 x 25.6 cm



From an important family collection started in the late 1950s. Property of a West London, UK, gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12276-220409.

Astrolabes were used to make astronomical measurements, specifically to determine the altitudes of celestial bodies, but over time astrologers and travellers devised many different uses for the instrument. They were especially useful to navigators in order to determine position when out of sight of land. This text explains the book 'The Astrolabe' and several ways in which the device could be deployed.

Plano-convex seal with conjoined animal heads; accompanied by a copy of an old scholarly note dated April 1999, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Goethite 16x19x15.4 mm. This is a decorated ellipsoid with nearly round flat face, the back with large suspension hole and decorated with three pairs of two raised circles. The design consists of the protomes of four creatures joining the middle: bull, ram (or ibex), stag and eagle. Around them are three fillers: two stars and a crescent. This is a Sassanian seal. c.200-500 A.D. It is in very good condition and has a very rare design. No doubt there is some symbolism in these four creatures, but the present writer does not know what it is.' 8.46 grams, 19 mm



UK private collection, 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note dated April 1999, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

A panel of twelve glazed pictorial tiles in vibrant colours depicting a battle scene from the epic poem 'Shahnameh', written during the reign of Sultan Mahmoud Ghaznavi (979-1030 A.D). and presented to him by the poet Ferdowsi, with two warriors on horseback fighting with swords, four trumpeters above and wounded figures and discarded arms below; with three small cartouches of nastaʿlīq script inscription at top; the tiles set with ornamental studs at intersections; all mounted within a substantial part-gilt wooden frame for hanging or display. 24.5 kg, 87 x 68.5 cm



Ex Habib Anavian Galleries Ltd, New York, USA. with Mahboubian Gallery, London, UK. Accompanied by the original 1979 catalogue where this piece is published. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12129-217321.