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LOT 1713
Western Asiatic Bronze Decorated Bulla
CIRCA 2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
1 in. (32.7 grams, 25.18 mm).
Spherical bulla with raised geometric decoration. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.
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:
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Western Asiatic Alabaster Vessel
Circa 500-400 B.C.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £200
Squat, 'bag' shaped vessel with flared rim and flat base. 150 grams, 60 mm
Private collection, 1990s-early 2000s. -
Sumerian Green Stone Eye Idol
3rd millennium B.C.Estimate: £2,500 - 3,500 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,250
Carved in the round as a rectangular block with a slit to the upper edge, vertical spike with two annulet 'eyes'; pierced for suspension. 13.2 grams, 41 mm
with M. Petropoulos, Zurich, early 1990s. with Rhéa gallery. Private collection, acquired in 1999. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12897-241753.
Idols were an important part of religious life in South Arabia and across the ancient Near East. They were made as images of gods, spirits, or protective powers, and helped people feel a closer connection to the divine. These figures might be placed in temples, shrines, or even in the home, where they could have a protective or devotional role. Their shapes were often simple and stylised, with more importance placed on their meaning than on making them look fully realistic. -
South Arabian Carving of a Nude Couple in Erotic Embrace with Inscription
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,222
Modelled in the round as two figures embracing, the upper figure with a pseudo inscription to the back; mounted on a custom-made stand. 380 grams total, 13.3 cm including stand
Formerly in the collection of Mr K. Ex collection of Mr H., acquired in Switzerland in the early 2000s. Private collection, Switzerland, acquired in 2010. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12875-241696.