Loading, please wait...
LOT 1508
Sasanian Domed Rock Crystal Stamp Seal with Deer
3RD-5TH CENTURY A.D.
3/4 in. (6.77 grams, 19 mm).
Plano-convex with incuse motif of an ibex with legs folded beneath the body. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceLondon, UK, art market, 1980s.
Private collection, London, UK.
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
-
Western Asiatic Stone Amulet and Bead Collection
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
A mixed group including: two barrel-shaped with etched decoration, one seashell-shaped, one mother-of-pearl pendant shaped as a fish, another fish-shaped pendant in stone, and others. 33.39 grams total, 15.89-25.69 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Western Asiatic Alabaster Vessel
Circa 500-400 B.C.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £200
Squat, 'bag' shaped vessel with flared rim and flat base. 150 grams, 60 mm
Private collection, 1990s-early 2000s. -
Sumerian Green Stone Eye Idol
3rd millennium B.C.Estimate: £2,500 - 3,500 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,250
Carved in the round as a rectangular block with a slit to the upper edge, vertical spike with two annulet 'eyes'; pierced for suspension. 13.2 grams, 41 mm
with M. Petropoulos, Zurich, early 1990s. with Rhéa gallery. Private collection, acquired in 1999. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12897-241753.
Idols were an important part of religious life in South Arabia and across the ancient Near East. They were made as images of gods, spirits, or protective powers, and helped people feel a closer connection to the divine. These figures might be placed in temples, shrines, or even in the home, where they could have a protective or devotional role. Their shapes were often simple and stylised, with more importance placed on their meaning than on making them look fully realistic.
