Loading, please wait...
LOT 0201
Western Asiatic Basalt Tablet with Cuneiform Inscription
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
12 3/4 in. (7.85 kg, 32.6 cm).
Architectural fragment with rectangular band to one edge, carved decorative detailing with inscription.
ProvenancePrivate collection, Europe, thence by descent.
Private collection, since the late 1980s.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12521-231989.
See similar inscriptions in basalt in Lauinger, J., Batiuk S., ‘A stele of Sargon II at Tell Tayinat’ in Zeitschrift für Assyriologie, 2015; 105(1), pp.54-68.
FootnotesAmid the many architectural, sculptural, and textual riches of Assyria and Mesopotamia, the broken pieces of basalt bearing fragmentary cuneiform inscriptions have received little attention, but are of fundamental importance. Despite being quite fragmentary, these broken pieces of basalt are the remains of an important witness to the Assyrian imperial presence in the Near East.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
LOT 0201
Western Asiatic Basalt Tablet with Cuneiform Inscription
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000€2,320 - 3,480 (for guidance only)$2,700 - 4,050 (for guidance only)
Opening Bid
£1,000 (EUR 1,160; USD 1,350) ‡+BP*
-
Western Asiatic Stone Geometric Pendant
Circa 14th-16th century A.D.Estimate: £30 - 40 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Rectangular body with integral suspension loop and engraved grid of dot-in-lozenges on the obverse. 7.61 grams, 37 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Mesopotamian Terracotta Cuneiform Tablet Fragment
Early 2nd millennium B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Rectangular fragment of a tablet with impressed text. 25.8 grams, 37 mm
Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992. Thence by descent to family members. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well-preserved examples. -
Large West Central Asian Bronze Double Sun-Whorl Seal Matrix
Circa 2300-2000 B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
Discoid stamp seal with segmented face and a flat back with a loop handle, the design consisting of a central circle from which two layers of bands spread towards the edge. 38.7 grams, 48 mm
Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Ex property of a West London businessman. Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s.
