Sumerian Cylinder Seal with Animals

Including triangular, leaf-shaped, barbed, paddle-shaped arrowheads with a flat, comparatively wide mid-rib, and others. 176 grams total, 3.4-10.2 cm



Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. 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.

Some of the represented arrowheads (paddle-shaped) were typical of the Old Babylonian Empire. The shoulders were pronounced and the arrowhead had a rectangular-section tapering tang. This simple form was popular throughout and are comparatively common finds in the Holy Land. The collection includes a rare Eastern Roman iron type with triangular blade having rhomboid section and short tang.

Comprising a wide shallow body with repoussé foot and separately applied strap handle. 50 grams, 12.6 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. 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.

Cylinder with cord and bead handles; accompanied by a copy of an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder Seal of Black Stone, 31 x 19 mm. The scene consist of three figures: on the left is a god, marked out by his horned tiara, and sitting on an angular stool generally thought to represent a temple facade. Facing him is a human seated on a more practical seat, with crossing legs. Each holds a straw to a pot in the middle, from which they are or will be drinking. Behind the god stands an attendant with one hand raised. For a terminal there is a stylised tree. This is an old Akkadian drinking scene, c. 2300-2200 B.C., from Mesopotamia or south-west Iran. It is an important example because normally both figures look either divine or human, but here one, is clearly divine and the other human. The drink in the pot is beer, and straws were used because it was not strained, and all the husks of the barley were in the liquid, and were strained out by the straws.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 22.5 grams, 31 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in January 1992. 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.