Proto-Sumerian Pictographic Tablet for Amounts of Barley

Comprising a large quantity of variously shaped beads in lapis lazuli, red jasper, rock crystal, glass and other materials. 78.4 grams total, 2-14 mm



UK gallery, early 2000s.

Glass is the premier bead material. Invented in the Middle East around 2500 B. C., glass making spread slowly. There are mainly two types of beads, drawn beads (when the tubes are cut in a short segments, which are usually agitated over heat to smooth off the sharp edges) or wound beads (made by wrapping molten glass around a rock, stick or wire. Once the bead is built up, it can be further pressed or paddled into shape, placed in a mould, or decorated with other colours of glass.

Modelled in the round, front and back paws formed as a one block, pierced lug to the back. 57.5 grams, 57 mm



with a London, UK gallery, 1971-early 2000s.

The lion was one of the most widely used symbols in Seljuk culture. They frequently used the word aslan, meaning lion, in the names of their Sultans and statesmen, such as Alparslan, "brave lion," Aslanshah, "lion king," and Aslandogmus, "lion born." Four of the Seljuk Sultans were named Kilicarslan, which combines the words for a sword and lion, and the interest in lions is clearly reflected in the art and architecture of the Seljuk period. Lion-head water spouts are to be found at a number of caravanserais, and lion statues guarded the portals to the city of Cardak Han in Anatolia, as well as carved onto the walls of the palace at Incir Han. The lion is also to be found on the coins of Sultan Giyaseddin II.

Loose paper pages with handwritten text in Naskh script, thirteen lines of text to each side, red and blue inked rings as punctuation, decorative side-panel with perpendicular text; torn at the central fold, edges chipped. 11 grams, 34.5 x 43 cm



From the private collection of M. Cummings, Lincolnshire, UK, 1990s.