Western Asiatic Agate Bead Necklace String

With large eyes, the pupils inlaid in black chlorite, bone insert for the sclerae, three arching grooved brows, the wide muzzle with a horizontal incision between the nostrils, closed mouth; sockets to the sides of the head to accept separately made horns and ears; the edge of the neck contoured for attachment; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.24 kg total, 14.5 cm high including stand



Private European collection, 1985. with Christie’s, New York, 3 June 2009, no.35. Private collection, Europe. 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.12358-226703. 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.

In Sumerian mythology, the bull was associated with the storm and rain god Hadad (Iškur), and is widely represented on artworks (Woolley, 1961, pp.46, 52; Kramer, 1979, figs.17, 18, 22). The round inlaid eyes are typical of Sumerian art of Early Dynastic Period, as well as the triple eyebrows.

Cylinder with cord and bead handles; 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: 'Cylinder Seal in Fawn Stone, Concave, 25 x 12.5 mm. The main figures are three; a nude female frontally shown save for her head, which is sideways; facing her a standing figure in a long fringed robe, with one arm awkwardly placed behind him; on the other side of the nude female a kneeling figure holding up a bull by the hind leg. Above the main scene are two browsing quadrupeds, one clearly a stag. Between the nude female and the figure on the left is a head of a horned animal. A second such animal's head above a sideways browsing stag forms a terminal. The whole design is placed between two lines. The seal is Mitanni, c 1400-1200 B.C., from anywhere between the eastern Mediterranean and Kurdistan. It has a very full design and looks like a "common style", but it is cut on stone, not made of frit, and the design is very deeply cut so that a fine, well-rounded impression is given. Also, being of stone, it is more durable than those of frit. Though there is some wear, the deep outlining means that nothing has been lost as a result.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 6.34 grams, 25 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in July 1991. 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.

Restrung group of lentoid-section and other beads. 5.44 grams, 55 cm



Ex Susan Hadida, Faustus Art and Jack Ogden, 1970-1980. 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.