Proto-Sumerian Pictographic Tablet for Amounts of Barley

Comprising: hexafoil strap- or belt-fitting with panels of scrolled tendrils and reserved petals, reverse damaged; tongue-shaped hollow strap-end with openwork arabesque finial, bands of scrolled tendrils to obverse, incised arabesque to reverse; two rectangular belt mounts each with openwork obverse, hanged looped fitting to lower edge; four discoid mounts with three pierced lugs; two triangular plaques with openwork scrolled tendril design, pin to each angle; spherical dangle; ribbed scaphoid dangle; openwork hoop with scrolled tendrils; annular mount with ropework motif to obverse. 45 grams total, 9-49 mm



Mr M.B., Mainz, Germany, since the 1980s. Private collection, London. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr. Jack Ogden of Strptwist Ltd, reference 190623 with description of the items and the techniques used to produce them, and the metallic composition of the gold (56.36% to 64.25% on the items tested).

With a long tapering shank, poppy-head terminal with three projecting lobes, incised chevrons in between the lobes. 80 grams, 17 cm



Acquired on the UK art market before 2000; Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Discoid in plan with basal ring and shallow dished face. 2.05 kg, 21.7 cm wide



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.