Western Asiatic Bronze Saddle Fitting with Bull

Cylinder seal mounted on a card backing with wooden edging; plaster impression; old collector's handwritten notes '40. Néo Assyrien 9°-7° siècle Av.J.C. Calcedoine. Thème du maître des animaux saisissant deux bouquetins. Au centre de la ronde des animaux se tient un griffon ailé. Dans le champ, étoile d'Ishtar. Derrière le héros se dresse un lion qui s'apprête à saisir un bouquetin cabré.' (40. Neo-Assyrian. 9th-7th century BC. Theme of the master of animals seizing two ibexes. In the centre of the circle of animals stands a winged gryphon. In the field, the star of Ishtar. Behind the hero appears a lion who prepares to seize a rearing ibex.); supplied with a museum-quality impression. 31 grams total, seal: 24 mm



Antonovitch Gallery, Paris, 1978. Chesnes Gallery, Lyon, 1982. Acquired at Drouot, Paris, 2022. Private collection, London, UK.

Penannular in form and round in section with clubbed ends, three incised gussets below each finial. 42.88 grams, 73 mm



From the collection of Contessa L.G., assembled in the 1980s. Private collection, acquired in Switzerland in 1999. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13200-249217.

The bracelet resembles a specimen found in Persepolis, in the Treasury, room 65, made from plain bronze wire. If the Achaemenid bracelets are characterised by their extremities shaped like goats or other wild animals, simpler gold bracelets existed, used abundantly by children and women, and also by royal courtiers and even slaves.

The distal section of a small pillow-shaped tablet with impressed text on both sides. 27 grams, 36 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.