Tell Halaf Painted Terracotta Vessel

Representing an exquisite bull figure standing with his head turned dramatically to the left, depicted with large curled horns and inlaid white stone eyes, formed from thin hammered silver sheet in repoussé, depicting the bull as a hollow pendant, with the interior filled with natural bitumen; traces of an original suspension loop on the shoulder. 54.5 grams, 70 mm wide



with Mahboubian Gallery, New York, acquired prior to 1969. 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 search certificate number no.13140-249434.

Objects of this type are understood to be ritual or votive pendants, produced not for everyday wear but primarily for dedication in temple contexts. Bulls, goats, rams and other herd animals with horns were thematically abundant in the Ancient Near East, especially around the Iranian plateau circumscribed by the Zagros and Elbruz Mountains and multiple deserts. There are representations of bulls as pendants or votive statuettes (Mahboubian,1997, pp.59, 213, 224, 225, 225, 235, 240), vessel stands (Mahboubian, 1997, pp.40-41), vessel protomes and rhytons from Mesopotamia to Caucasus.

With lions and horned animals between scrolls, 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: 'Description of Cylinder Seal of Hematite, 22 x 13 mm. Main scene: two lions facing, on their haunches, upended quadruped with big ears between them; above and below elegant guilloche. Minor scene: two facing quadrupeds with big ears, bush between, below them a guilloche, below that a prancing horned animal and two fillers. Horizontal rules mark off each part of the design. Syrian, c. 1700-1600 B.C., somewhat worn, but the cutting of hight quality.'; accompanied by a museum quality impression and a pair of red stone beads. 8.98 grams, 22 mm



Private collection, London, UK. 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.

Broad and convex in profile with flat base. 158 grams, 16.5 cm



From the collection of North West London, UK, gentleman, 1990-2000s.