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LOT 1639
Sasanian Marbled Agate Stamp Seal with Bull
CIRCA 3RD-7TH CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (8.75 grams, 21.76 mm).
Annular in profile with incuse incised zebu in a ring of billets. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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:
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Western Asiatic Alabaster Vessel with Lug Handles
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £180 - 240 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £90
Carved bag-shaped body with two lateral unpierced lug handles at the shoulder, flared rim to the mouth. 984 grams, 12.5 cm
Ex William Ohly, 1883-1955. Ex Abbey Museum, Barnet, by descent. -
Large Sasanian Banded Agate Stamp Seal
Circa 4th-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Plano-convex in section with linear motifs. 18.43 grams, 28.74 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Sumerian Green Stone Eye Idol
3rd millennium B.C.Estimate: £2,500 - 3,500 (‡+bp*)
Current Winning 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.
