Western Asiatic Bronze Earring Group

Carved in the round figure of a lion crouching on its haunches, with neck arched and forepaws resting on the spine (upper edge) of an animal placed perpendicular to the lion's head biting into its flesh; the D-shaped face with teardrop-shaped sockets for the eyes, button nose, small triangular ears; the prey with legs folded beneath the body, head turned along the lion's mane and left shoulder, with small protrusive horn and ear, oval socket for the eye; integral base with rounded lateral edges, fracture at each end. 340 grams, 85 mm



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

Modelled in the round, depicting the (severed?) head of a Mesopotamian demon, with iconic facial features in relief; hollow with a vent to the neck; produced from a two-piece mould, with a median seam through the facial features. 191 grams, 87 mm



Private collection, Israel. with Holy Land House of Antiquities, Jerusalem, 1980s. Acquired by the current owner from the above, 2001. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12878-241678.

Within traditional Mesopotamian religion, Humbaba was a creature regarded as the guardian of the cedar forest and the brother of Pazuzu. He was represented as a giant who had been raised by the sun god, Shamash. However, this head could also refer to another deity or demon, like one of the heads found in the Kish excavations.

Cylinder seal, perforated longitudinally for suspension, with inscription; 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 white stone with Brown Bands 42 x 16 mm. The art-work shows a single standing figure. The head is perhaps covered with a simple cap and the hair is gathered in a bun at the nape of the neck. There is a big beard. The god or man is wearing a robe wrapped over one arm and then falling from the waist to the feet, but open at the front so that one leg is exposed. One hand is held at the waist, the other hangs down. The remainder of the engraved surface is filled with an eight-line inscription in Middle Babylonian cuneiform. The language, however, is Sumerian and a very difficult form of the language, since it was no longer spoken and the scribes thought in Babylonian, but then expressed themselves in a strange form of Sumerian. Thus there is considerable difficulty in being sure how to translate, and the following is given with reserves: Diskur bára ul pes / háúl-hl gur(4) gur(4) za-lu / zi-bi igi-bar sag ní-za / lum-bi tuku-bi silim-NI / ki-bi níg-si-sá.gar-re / hé-túm-túm-mu-bi / dsîn-ra-im-zeri / dumu be-lí-tim-dmes' “Adad, lofty lord, who rejoices the heart, who strengthens living creatures, arise, look upon the servant who reverences you, grant him his dwelling, ma[l]ke it prosper, establish justice at his place, and lead him — namely sîn-ra' im-zeri, son of … -Marduk.” This is a Cassite period seal, from Babylonia, c.1300-1100 B.C. Such seals are comparatively rare, and this one is a large, fine specimen with long inscription and in very good state of preservation.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 18.89 grams, 41 mm



Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in December 1994. Private collection, London, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly report and translation, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13264-253487.

The prayer celebrates Adad as the thunder god. It is written in typically learned Sumerian, translated almost morpheme by morpheme from Akkadian.