Sumerian Cylinder Seal with Fish

Restrung group of tubular, cylindrical and other beads. 6.94 grams, 40.5 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 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.

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 Cornelian, 20 x 11 mm. On the right a deity is seated on a throne with a high back decorated with sparkling knobs. This deity holds an unidentified object in one hand while raising the other. Facing stands a worshiper raising the right hand with index finger extended, extending the left and with palm cupped. Between the two figures is a fire-bowl raised on a pole with fire burning in the pan. Three filling motifs serve as a terminal: the lunar crescent, a lozenge-shape, and a fish. This is a Neo-Assyrian seal in late drilled style. c. 750-600 B.C.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 4.11 grams, 19 mm



From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.P1. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert dated March 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.

Cylinder with cord and bead handles; accompanied by a copy of an old scholarly note, typed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Description of Cylinder Seal of brown Hematitite (sic), 29 x 15.5 mm. Standing composite figure with human legs and body, but a bird's wings and head, is placed between a large recumbent horned quadruped with long neck and a smaller horned quadruped with short neck; other items; scorpion, hand, fish, star. The whole of the design in enclosed within upper and lower rules. This is a good example of the Mitanni "Elaborate Style", from anywhere between north-western Iran and the eastern Mediterranean. As is normal for such Mitanni seals, the cutting was done entirely with three semi-mechanical tools: the drill, the tubular drill and the cutting wheel. The date will be c. 1500-1250 B.C. The ancient name of the composite figure is not so far known. Save for a gash on the standing figure, the condition is fine.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 14.4 grams, 23 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note typed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in October 1987. 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.