Safavid Tile Depicting a Lady

A bifacial sceptre head formed as a Master of Animals atop a collared tubular stem with flared foot; slender crescentic arms to the sides, ribbed collars and janiform faces; waisted socket below; mounted on a custom-made stand. 141 grams, 17.7 cm including stand



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.

This type of standards (columnar figures) has a tubular shape, the tubular body shaped like a human figure with a pronounced height, front and back side of the body and head, with arms placed in several specific positions. In numerous cases the shoulders (or less frequently the chest) of this figure are complemented by a pair of animal protomes. Based on the indicated element, this type has been divided into two basic subtypes - 'columnar figurines with protomes' and 'columnar figurines without protomes' (our specimen).

Sacrifice scene comprising: bearded male in profile wearing a dentilled cap, pleated kilt and jacket, sword in one hand and the other holding the horns of a rearing ibex; small figure with deer over his shoulders beneath a winged sun-disc; objects in the field; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 17 grams, 30 mm



Ex S. collection, London, UK, 1980s-2000s.

Graduated group of restrung tubular and tabular beads with gilt-metal interstitial collars; centrepiece of a large cylindrical agate bead with gold end-caps; S-hook and eye closure; with custom display box. 126 grams total, 56.5 cm long



Ex Swiss collection, kept in London since the 1980s.