Western Asiatic Agate Bull's Head Pendant

Round-section penannular body with incised linear and pellet decoration, stylised beast-head finials. 52 grams, 66 mm



Ex H. Norry collection, Milton Keynes, UK, 1980s-1990s. 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.

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 of Hematite, 19 x 11.5 mm. The major part of the design consist of a seated figure, no doubt a god, holding up one hand in greeting to a standing figure, meant as a human worshipper, who similarly hold up one hand. Between them is a table with elegant legs on which rests a pile of breads. Above this is a motif probably intended as a stylized bull's head. The minor part of the design consists of a row of five walking men, the first raising one hand, the last carrying a crook over his shoulder. This is a Syrian seal, c. 1900-1700 B.C. and though the stone is somewhat worn, the design is fully clear.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 7.5 grams, 18 mm



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

A heavy example modelled in the round with slender elongated trunk, thick neck and prominent horns, vestigial ears below; Anatolian workmanship. 1.32 kg, 19.2 cm



with Christie's, New York, 8 June 2001, no.363. Private collection, Europe. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages. 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 a search certificate number no.12414-226675. 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.

Bulls with raised horns have been found in central Anatolian royal burials. Among the sacred animals found in the royal graves of Alacahöyük, the bull and the deer are always present. This simplified figure of a young and spritely standing bull recalls the Baltimore bull and other two examples in the Cleveland Museum of Art. Images of bulls were mounted on standards, used in battlefields or in religious processions, or like in the royal graves of Alacahöyük, they were used to decorate cult furniture or shrines.