Western Asiatic Bronze Pouring Vessel

Fragment of a pillow-shaped tablet with impressed cuneiform text to the outer surface. 51.8 grams, 50 mm



From an old English collection formed before 1990. Acquired from Alan Cherry, Bournemouth, Dorset. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Comprising a tapering round-section pin with a balustered finial. 31.3 grams, 12.1 cm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

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.