Western Asiatic Alabaster Bowl

Group of three square ceramic tiles with reserved foliage motifs and Hebrew text. 641 grams total, 10.6 x 10.6 cm each



with a London, UK gallery 1971.

Comprising a quantity of disc-shaped beads, each pierced for stringing. 53 grams total, 3-10 cm



UK gallery, early 2000s.

While slaves and the poorest people wore simple, functional clothes, the wealthiest classes of Mesopotamia could afford beautifully made jewellery. The royal tombs from Sumeria dating from around 2500 B.C. included an abundance of beaded necklaces, rings, bracelets for the wrist and ankles, stickpins, and other jewellery, made of gold and silver set with decorative gemstones such as deep blue lapis lazuli, red carnelian, white alabaster, and sparkling crystals. In the Lugale-Mythos the Alabaster is personified like a hero: ‘(And) the hero Alabaster, these heroes plundered the cities for him (= Asag)’. The hematite and the limestone/alabaster, two stones with a light and dark base colour, were used as aids in a divinatory ritual in which they were probably connected with the favourable and unfavourable answers to oracle inquiries.

Comprising a barrel-shaped banded agate bead suspended vertically with a loop and collar above; a gold fusiform pendant below. 1.05 grams, 23 mm



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

The pendant structure shows affinities with three beads of a necklace from Kition (MLA 1742/34, 6, 7) made of high carat gold-alloy, and obtained by joining two hemispheres, each one embossed out of thick plate. The upper hemisphere is pierced at the top, where a small round suspension loop is inserted and fused.