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LOT 0191
South Arabian Alabaster Sculpture of a Man with Inscription
3RD-1ST CENTURY B.C.
10 5/8 in. (3.62 kg total, 27.1 cm including stand).
On a rectangular background, shallow sockets and grooved eyebrows, elongated nose and face, mouth faintly indicated by a straight incised line, large, protruding ears; traces of beard under the chin, vertical lines representing hair; name engraved in Arabian letters beneath the chin; mounted on a custom-made display stand.
ProvenanceUK collection, 1990s.
Acquired on the UK art market, before 2000.
Private collection, Mr M.V., a London-based businessman.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. for the style of the head Cleveland R.L., An Ancient South Arabian Necropolis, objects from the second campaign (1951) in the Timna Cemetery, Baltimore, 1951, pls. 20,23. for similar examples; Simpson, S., Queen of Sheba. Treasures from Ancient Yemen, London, 2002, p.119, no.128.
FootnotesWithin South Arabia, there was a well-developed ancient tradition of carving funerary sculptures from a calcite-alabaster stone. The eyes and eyebrows of the heads were usually inlaid or (like probably here) highlighted with red or black pigment. The figure is inscribed on the base with the name of the dedicant, or with the personal name of the dead person.
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LOT 0191
South Arabian Alabaster Sculpture of a Man with Inscription
Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
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Old Babylonian Haematite Cylinder Seal
2000-1800 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,120
Columnar in form with frieze depicting a standing Lamma goddess in flounced robe facing towards a god wearing a pleated garment and holding a mace at his hip; disc-and-crescent motif above; behind, the storm-god Adad with one foot on a mound, wielding a lightning bolt in his raised hand. 11 grams, 25 mm
Private collection, Europe. with Bonhams, London, 22 April 1999, no.538. Acquired by the present owner from the above. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12538-232100. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
West Central Asian Bronze Rhomb Stamp Seal
Circa 2300-2000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Openwork stamp with loop handle; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Bronze 36x33x13 mm. This is flat, compartmented and open-work, with a handle of inverted V-shape on the back. The design is a linear pattern: to each end is a horizontal straight line, the two being joined by pairs of diagonal lines from them crossing in the middle and creating a row of one rhomb and two triangles in the middle. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It is a nice example of its kind and in very good condition.' 10 grams, 36 mm
From the collection of the late Mr S, 1970-1990s. Accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Western Asiatic Stone Scaraboid with Aramaic Inscription
Late 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
With deep sidewall, underside with three lines of lightly incised text; supplied with a museum-quality inscription. 3.42 grams, 17 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
