Western Asiatic Bronze Scaraboid Seal Matrix

With cord and bead handles; 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: 'Description of Cylinder Seal of Fossil Shell 30 x 16.5 mm. A god standing in the centre succours a domestic animal on either side which is being attack[ed] in turn by a lion. Terminal: two line[s] below vacant description panel. The seal is of late ED III or early Akkad date, c. 2400-2200 B.C. The cutting is marked by a strong use of the drill. The seal is worn, though the design clear. The meaning of the design is based on real life. Lions were a real threat to the herds and flocks of the community, and it was hoped that the depiction of a god coming to the rescue of the domestic creatures would mean that in real life their animals would be similarly saved by divine help.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 16.1 grams total, 8.1-29.57 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in August 1990. 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.

Depicting seated god facing three standing figures, restrung pair of red stone beads, old handwritten label '1648'; 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 Cream Fossil Shell, 35 x 22 mm. On the right sits a god, bearded, hair done up in a bun, wearing a horned tiara and a long, flounced robe, and raising one hand' before him stands a deity in a long robe falling in pleats and holding by the wrist a worshipper behind, who is bringing a kid as a gift to the seated god. The worshipper's wife stands behind him, with different hair style but similar clothing, holding a bucket in one hand. There is a crescent moon in the sky and between the two gods an oblong filled with circles; and a fish. This is an Akkadian seal from Mesopotamia or West Iran, c. 2300-2200 B.C. The presentation scene it shows was meant to be understood as the seal owner and his wife being introduced to an important god who could help them. The oblong object with circles in not certainly understood, but it may be a tray in which small cheese were put to drain.'; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 30.9 grams, 35 mm



Armand Trampitsch, Glyptique Archéologie, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 13-14 May 1992, no.23 [Part]. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in 1992. 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.

Hollow-formed rhyton with four splayed legs, curved neck with tall mane, loop handle forming the tail; filler hole to middle of back, spout to the chest; incised hatched bands to the mane and flanks. 2.1 kg, 37 cm



Sakae Art Gallery, Nagoya, Japan, 1982. with Aaron Gallery, acquired from the above. Accompanied by thermoluminescence analysis report no.N121q65 by Oxford Authentication. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12822-241329. 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.