Western Asiatic Agate and Gold Bead Necklace

With conical body, the inner face bearing the remains of concentric rings of inked magical Aramaic text, repaired. 330 grams, 16 cm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Aramaic incantation bowls are particular to the Sassanian period and have been found in regions of modern Iraq. These simple ceramic bowls, also known as magic bowls, each contain an Aramaic inscription, written in ink, which spirals from the centre. The bowls seem to have played an important part in domestic life. For example, during excavation in Nippur in 1889, one or more incantation bowls were found in each house together with domestic artefacts, most often in doorways or under floorboards in the corner of rooms. The bowls are predominantly apotropaic, and the inscriptions tend to protect their owners from misfortunes such as those faced in child-birth, illness and evil spirits.

An Assyrian or Urartian bell-shaped seal featuring a ribbed suspension loop attached to a stepped base; on the convex underside of the seal, there is an intricate engraving depicting a mythical creature that combines the body of an eagle with a fish tail; this hybrid creature is depicted facing to the left and holding a hare in its beak, with a snake coiled around the seal's perimeter; accompanied by a museum-quality impression and a typed and signed scholarly note issued by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Chalcedony / 23 x 14.5 mm. / This has a round, convex face, and above it is a cylinder with sharply concave sides, on top of which is (of one piece with the rest) a pierced lug with grooves over its top. The design on the base shows a standing composite creature: legs, wings and head of a bird, but body of a fish. In its beak it is holding a dead hare or other such creature. Around the design is a snake, whose body does not quite complete the circle. / This is an Urartian seal, from the ancient Kingdom of Urartu, c. 800-650 B.C. It comes from the area around Lake Van. The composite creature is a typical feature of the art of this kingdom. The snake is interesting, since it is the forerunner of the famous Ourobouros on magic gems of the period c. 100 B.C. to 200 A.D. It often appears surrounding a design, but it has its tail in its mouth. This seal has very slight chipping of the edges, but generally is in very good condition.' 4.71 grams, 23 mm



Private collection, England, 1990. European art market. Anonymous sale; Christie's, New York, 6 December 2007, no.374. From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals. with Bonhams, London, 7 December 2021, no.64 (£3,000 - £4,000). Accompanied by a copy of a typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

Mixed group of tubular and other beads, coils, end-caps and other items. 10.03 grams total, 1-11 mm



From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.