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LOT 1179
Sumerian Cylinder Seal with Fish
3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.
1/2 in. (2.49 grams, 14.09 mm).
With geometric 'stylised fish' motif; supplied with a museum-quality impression.
ProvenanceAcquired in the 1996.
Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent.
Private collection, since the late 1990s.
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Bactrian Silver Pyxis with Beasts
3rd-2nd millennium B.C.Estimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
Hollow-formed and drum-shaped with rounded rim; the sidewall with low-relief motifs of beasts and vegetation; underside pierced. 32.3 grams, 32 mm
Acquired before 1990. Ex London gallery, 1990s. Private collection, London, UK. -
Western Asiatic Engraved Calligraphic Rock Crystal
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Ellipsoid in plan and biconvex in section with spiral band of dense Nastaliq text surrounding a central calligraphic panel. 104 grams, 56 mm
Acquired by a Swiss family in the mid-1980s to late 1990s, thence by descent. Private collection, Switzerland, since the late 1990s. -
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Early Dynastic Terracotta Administrative Cuneiform Tablet Recording Livestock and their Owners
IIIb, 2400-2340 B.C.Estimate: £18,000 - 24,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £10,000
Pillow-shaped tablet with dense cuneiform text to two broad faces and one edge, concerning the listing of 146 sheep and their owners or shepherds:
202 grams, 78 mmColumn I Column II Column III 5 sheep, Pirigni, Kor 2?
6 male sheep, Ur-ur of Umma
3 sheep, Zag-mu, ki ni mu zu
5 sheep, x x-gi
4 male sheep …
Ur-Ishkur, herder of Abdu
4 sheep, Urgu (of) E-RU
2 … , herder IL, scribe
3 Gimni, herder chief galla-official
5 male sheep, Ur-lu, ..
2 sheep Lu-ra, herder…
…, herder
2 male sheep, Akadu, son of Lugal-sanga
2 Shesh-zimu
3 Zagmu,
Akadu
2 Ekalsi
1 Gimdu, son of Ekal
2 Mashda
1 … Guzi…
2 …kam … NA
Column IV Reverse Column V Column VI 2 Ur-…dua
6 Zagmu, herder of Mesanne
1 Urtul
3 GISH.MI, herder of Ilum-su?ni
4 Lugal-shalasu
Adda, singer?
5 Almu
2 Ur-Ezida
IGI MI ZI SI
3 Lueshla
2 Ur-… NE-RA
8 Azuzu
2 Adda, captain
1 En…du, nuesh-officiant
3 Sheshpadda, overseer
2 … ki-bi
…
…
6 E…
1 Ur…
…
1 Ur …
1 …
3 Dingir-urmu
1 Pirigni
Da…
1 Ur-Ninshaza, wife of U-u
4 Lugallu, herder of Lugalla…, majordomo
5 …igi-en …
1 Lugal-E…nisi
Column VII Column VIII Total 4 E-gish MI bi?, .., farmer
1 Ur-dingir, …si-TExESZ3
1 …
1 Lugal-nuduga
1 Aba-Enlil
1 Lugal …
2 Urmes
1 Urdam
1 Akadu, Adda…
1 U-u, …
Umunene
2 … -niE-u?
(space)
Its total: 146 sheep,
…
Pirigni (is) kush-official.
with Laemmle Gallery, San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, USA. Acquired from the above in the early 1970s. with Bonhams, London, 13 April 2011, no.133. Private central European collection. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages. Accompanied by a copy of the translation for this tablet. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12121-218147.
