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LOT 1218
Syrian Stone Cylinder Seal with Figure Wearing Kilt
CIRCA 1800-1700 B.C.
1/2 in. (2.88 grams, 14 mm).
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 dark-brown stone with white inclusions, 14 x 8.5 mm. Slight chipping on top, otherwise condition fine. Male figure wearing short kilt and raising one hand, in front of him female figure wearing long, flounced garment and raising both hands; both facing four bands containing (i) guilloche, (ii) backwards-facing rampant horned quadruped above sideways recumbent lion, (iii) recumbent stage between two other recumbent horned quadrupeds, (iv) slender dog (?) chasing quadruped with horns or long ears. From Syria, c. 1800-1700 B.C. For similar seals, see D. Collon, "The Green Jasper Cylinder Seal Workshop" in M.K. Buccellati et al. (eds.), Papers in Honor of Edith Porada.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceUK private collection, acquired 1980-1983.
Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in January 1989.
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.
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Akkadian Green Jasper Cylinder Seal with Hero
Circa 2300-2200 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
Slightly waisted with bronze caps, accompanied by a handwritten scholarly note signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder seal of green stone with bronze caps; 34 x 16 mm. overall. Matching pair of contestants: nude hero and rampant lion. Inscription: name of ancient owner, but secondary, cannot be read. Akkadian, c. 2300-2200 B.C. Condition fine.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 12.23 grams, 34 mm
From a London, UK, collection, 1980s. Ex North American collection. Accompanied by a scholarly note by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert. 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. -
Achaemenid Silver Bowl with Royal Egyptian Inscription for Darius the Great
6th-5th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £13,000
Bowl fragment including section of the carinated rim, radiating repoussé teardrop bosses with interstitial lotus-flowers motifs and radiating rosette motif below; incised Egyptian hieroglyphic legend below the rim transliterated as 'ı͗nṯry(p sic )wš pr-ꜤꜢ pꜢ ꜤꜢ' (Darius, the Great Pharaoh); mounted on a custom-made stand. 1.23 kg total, 26.7 cm wide including stand
Previously in the private collection of Mr S.A, acquired on the London art market in the 1960s. Accompanied by a copy of a previous illustrated three page cataloguing/report. Accompanied by a copy of an IADAA Interpol search certificate. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12709-235450. 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.
Egyptologist Paul Whelan writes: "The inscription reads: ı͗nṯry(p sic )wš pr-ꜤꜢ pꜢ ꜤꜢ (Darius, the Great Pharaoh). The ancient Egyptians encountered difficulties in rendering the name Darius in hieroglyphs, with at least seventeen known variants. This version differs slightly from those, as it also includes an erroneous ‘p’ hieroglyph. The presence of several cuneiform signs following the hieroglyphs indicates that the phiale likely once featured multilingual versions of the inscription - a practice more commonly found on stone vessels. The epithet ‘the Great Pharaoh’ on this fragment represents one of the earliest examples, appearing more frequently in inscriptions from the reign of Xerxes." A hieroglyphic inscription on an Achaemenid item is very rare, although examples on stone vessels are known. Darius I 'the Great' ruled from 522 to 486 B.C. His predecessor, Cambyses II, conquered Egypt in 525 B.C. and the presence of this inscription is probably linked to the subsequent rule of the dynasty over Egypt and its influence on the Egyptian priestly caste. -
Western Asiatic Stone Jeweller's Mould Group
1st millennium A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Comprising: bifacial soapstone block fragment with incised roundel of a nimbate head with pouring channel, vent and locating hole, reverse similar with roundel of two opposed figures with fronds between, both faces with portions of other designs; larger rectangular block with pouting channel vent and two locating holes, roundel with rosette design. 59 grams total, 29-44 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.