Syro-Hittite Double-Headed Idol

Frieze depicting a kneeling huntsman with inverted spear and khopesh facing a rampant ibex with head turned away, crouching gryphon with forelegs raised, bird in flight preying on a recumbent ibex; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.24 grams, 15 mm



From the 'S' collection, acquired 1970-1990s. The collection was seen and studied by W.G.Lambert, late 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.

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, 50x49x15 mm. This is round with flat face and flat back, on which is mounted a handle of inverted V-shape. The design, which is both compartmented and open-work, consists of a plain cross within a plain outer band, and between the arms of the cross two struts at angles creating the impression of a start with four points beneath the cross. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It is in very good condition and has been conserved.' 23 grams, 50 mm



Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Ex property of a West London businessman. Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 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.

Comprising: three large triangular arrowheads with barbed shoulders and rounded midrib. 51 grams total, 9.7-10.5 cm



Acquired in the 1990s. 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.

The arrowheads belong to the type V of the Khorasani classification: subtype C, arrowheads with elongated, triangular shape with barbed shoulders and convex sides, and a raised midrib with a sharp central line. These types of arrowheads were commonly used in Anatolia and Mesopotamia from the 2nd millennium B.C., but apparently their employment began earlier in this area, where types like these occur alongside the non-barbed, predominantly ribbed and tanged types.