Western Asiatic Bronze Weight Collection

With incuse frieze depicting a winged male figure wearing a tall headdress and holding a khopesh hooked sword, one foot placed on the corpse of a goat or ram, grappling with a rearing bull-headed winged beast and gripping its raised foreleg; behind, a second winged male figure with a sceptre and raised club to strike the bull-headed beast from behind; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 32.6 grams, 40 mm



From the property of late Mr SM, London, UK, 1970-1990s, thence by descent. 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.

A rectangular-section panel with fourteen columns of cuneiform text mentioning the foundation of a temple by Nebuchadnezzar II, translating as 'King of Babylon provisioner of Esagil and Ezida prime son of Nabopolassar, King of Babylon and Ebabbara, the temple of Shamash in Larsa..[...]. 1.05 kg, 21 x 13 cm



Formerly in a private collection since 1980. Acquired from the private collection of L.H., Staffordshire, UK. Previously the property of an East Sussex, UK, gentleman. From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK. From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of a five-page specialist report by James Brenchley. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12315 -215546.

The construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the destruction of Jerusalem's temple are ascribed to Nebuchadnezzar II. He is featured in the biblical Book of Daniel and is mentioned in several other books of the Bible.

Terracotta pillow-shaped tablet with grid to each broad face, each cell with an impressed image and a corresponding number of impressions from the tip of a rod, a list for the distribution of animals to the contrary reading: Obverse: Column 1 1. 4(N14) 2(N01) , SZE~a MUSZ3~a units of barley 2. , SI4~f |3(N57).EN2| Column 2 1.a. 2(N14) , SZE~a EN~a PAP~a PAP@t units of barley 1.b. 3(N19) , 2. 3(N19) , MUSZ3~a 3. 1(N19) , LA2 TE SZE~a 4.a. 2(N14) , SZE~a EN~a KISAL~b1 PA~a units of barley 4.b. 5(N04) , 5. , |NUN~a+NAM2| Column 3 1. 2(N14) , SZE~a EN~a PAP~a PAP@t units of barley 2. 2(N19) 3(N04) , MUSZ3~a 3. 1(N19) 4(N04) , EN~a KISAL~b1 PA~a (name?) 4. 3(N14) 4(N01) , SZE~a IDIGNA EN~a KISAL~b1 PA~a units of barley 5. , ZATU659 Reverse: Column 1 1. 5(N14) 2(N01) , MUSZ3~a |3(N57).EN2| 2.a1. 1(N45) 2(N14) 3(N01) , SZE~a |NUN~a+NAM2| units of barley … 2.a2. 1(N45) 1(N14) , SZE~a ZATU659 units of barley … 2.b1. 5(N14) , SZE~a units of barley 2.b2. 7(N19) 3(N04) (total units) 2.b3. 3(N14) , SZE~a “ 2.b4. 8(N19) “ Column 2 1. 1(N45) 4(N14) , (sub?- total units of barley) … 2. 1(N46) 4(N19) 5(N04) , Column 3 1. 2(N45) 2(N19) 6(N14) 5(N04) , SZE~a 1(N57) SI4~f |SIxKU~b1| SZEG9 E~a (grand total units of barley) … 140 grams, 93 mm



From specialised collection of cuneiform texts, formed in the 1950s-1990s. The property of a London gentleman and housed in London, 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 1990s. The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. Accompanied by a copy of a handwritten and signed scholarly note for five tablets written by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12119-216212.