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LOT 1105
Urartu Alabaster Stamp Seal
8TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.
5/8 in. (3.36 grams, 16 mm).
Bifacial round seal with mythical creatures, likely winged ibexes; pierced hole for suspension.
ProvenanceEx London, UK, collection, before 1988.
LiteratureCf. for the iconography Sass, B., Uehlinger, C., Studies in the iconography of northwest semitic inscribed seals: Proceedings of a symposium held in Fribourg on April 17-20, 1991, Zurich, 1993, p.59, fig.16.
FootnotesAnimal-headed creatures are often winged bird-headed figures with human body in the Urartu and Northern-Syrian seals of ‘dnplţ ‘bd ‘mndb type, but often winged, apparently ibex-headed figures appear on the seals of the type bqšt bt ‘bdyrh. The ibex-headed figures might belong to same group of semi-divine beings visible on the Assyrian art.
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LOT 1105
Urartu Alabaster Stamp Seal
Estimate £100 - 140€120 - 160 (for guidance only)$140 - 190 (for guidance only)
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Persian Terracotta Votive Group
Circa 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £845
Depicting seven worshippers standing around the edge of a circular platform, facing inwards towards a smaller central figure, some with outstretched arms, others holding offerings, repaired. 830 grams, 17.6 cm
French private collection, Paris, formed between the 1960s-1980s. Acquired Bonhams, London, 13 April 2011, no.61. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages. -
Western Asiatic Graduated Gold Tubular Bead Set
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £325
Mixed group of tubular beads with granulation or incised segmentation. 3.17 grams total, 4-8 mm
From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s. -
Early Parthian Faience Face Cup
1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £400
Formed as a small circular vessel, the frontal part shaped as a female face, with well-defined nose, eyes and mouth, long hair on the sides framing the face, traces of colour still present on the upper edge. 71 grams, 60 mm
Collected from 1969-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.
Faience objects have been discovered in great numbers at various Middle Assyrian and later sites, including the capitals, provincial and administrative centres as well as small settlements. Functionally, the faience objects can be assigned to a variety of categories, among which vessels, fragments thereof, and jewellery are the most numerous. The vessels are predominantly open-shaped, such as bowls and cups, but miniature bottles, beakers and other types of vessels were also found. Our small cup was probably intended for female toilette usage.
