Syro-Hittite Lead Fertility Idol

Bifacial Master of Animals motif atop a collared tubular stem with flared foot; comprising two addorsed rams with their forelegs tied together; two addorsed birds standing on the rams' backs looking towards two birds' heads facing downwards and joined to slender crescentic boars with ridged backs and gaping mouths, each in the grip of the Master standing crowned between them; the Master with tubular body, animal-like ears, prominent nose above a small mouth and wearing collars, neck rings and tiered headdress; waisted socket below; mounted on a display stand. 930 grams total, 43 cm including stand



Acquired in Iran, 1967. Private collection, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12824-241323. 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.

According to current knowledge, one type of Luristan standards consisted of two symmetrical animal figures standing upright on their hind legs and facing each other with an anthropomorphic character at the centre. Like the "zoomorphic standards", the "zoomorphic standards with a human head" and the "idols", this type has two faces, which means that it was conceived to be viewed from all sides.

A stylised male head with ears, cap, prominent brow and strong nose, wide circular eyes, open mouth and long, prominent chin. 23.4 grams, 28 mm

Fine condition.

From a private collection formed in the Netherlands; previously in a European collection formed prior to 1980. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent. 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: two large tanged arrowheads, mainly of triangular type with mid-rib; other two of the same typology, but with rounded shoulders; six triangular, leaf-shaped, barbed, and paddle-shaped arrowheads with a flat, comparatively wide mid-rib; one small triangular arrowhead with rounded shoulders; two arrowheads with foliate shape and short tang; a triangular type with flat mid-rib and raised corners; a long narrow triangular arrowhead with raised shoulders and long tang; one triangular blade with flat midrib and short tang; a long and narrow paddle-shaped arrowhead. 234 grams total, 3.6-15.7 cm



From the London art market, 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.

A number of arrowheads of this type have been excavated in Luristan and in the South-Caspian region. Many parallels are from a burial context, but a large hoard of them was found in a non-funerary context. This type of arrowhead was in use from the late 2nd millennium B.C.