Western Asiatic Bronze Pendant with Four-Line Inscription

Piriform with narrow socket. 459 grams, 74 mm



From a West London, UK, collection, 1980-1990s. 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.

With incuse rearing ibex and altar; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 2.35 grams, 22.5 mm



From the 'S' collection, acquired 1970-1990s. The collection was seen and studied by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

Tightly-coiled wire band with graduated profile, domed disc closure with repoussé central boss and pellets to the rim, pendant formed as a rectangular frame enclosing two fusiform banded agate and another fusiform bead, barrel-shaped gold collars and coiled wire finials. 37.20 grams, 66 cm



with Ancient and Islamic Art Ltd, 1993. Private European collection, early 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate no.12597-232360.

In Old Bactria there are a number of necklaces with compartmented chlorite rosettes containing settings in lapis lazuli, cornelian, and turquoise, which seem to indicate a tradition of purely local taste; together with these should be considered other examples in twisted gold lamina, like our example, with pendants in gold or in semi-precious stones such as rock crystal.