Urartian Jasper Bovine Seal Amulet

Circular openwork seal with cross motif; accompanied by typed and signed note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 44 x 45 x 15 mm. This is round, with flat compartmented and open-work face, and flat back on which a handle of inverted U-shape is mounted. The design consists of a central Greek cross joined to a segmented outer band by a single strut from the middle of the outer arms, and three pairs of struts, two from each arm of the cross, one from the single strut. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. The outer rim is a little dented, but otherwise it is in very good condition and a fine example of its kind.' 22 grams, 45 mm



Ex collection of a late London gentleman, 1990s. Accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, 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.

Including various geometric and zoomorphic motifs; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 16.04 grams total, 16-30 mm



Private Swiss collection. Acquired in 1998. 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.

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.