Western Asiatic Calligraphic Green Jasper Gemstone in Silver Setting

Sheet-silver vessel with drum-shaped body, narrow discoid repoussé base; bands of repoussé foliage to the body beneath a raised collar and fluted neck and rim; rectangular-section crescent handle held by two securing hoops formed as miniature rams. 1.2 kg, 26.5 cm wide



From an old private collection. with Oxus Fine Arts Pte. Ltd, Singapore. Acquired by the current owner in London, 2012. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12288-220840.

Dr Grigoriev, in his studies on Sogdian silver artworks, has traced specific Sogdian features of metalwork prototypes on the basis of the ceramic replicas. Some of these features were distinguished on gold and silver vessels, which possess many other characteristics bringing them together. In our bucket, the style and the decoration of the flowers resemble those of the bucket with deer from Shirokovskoe (Perm, see Marshak, 1971, T,35), while the bands of repoussé foliage to the body beneath the raised collar and fluted neck and rim recall the decoration of the dish with deer from Rep’evka, in Samara Province (Darkevich, 1976, n.12).

Modelled with triangular pulled-back ears and a narrow muzzle; accompanied by a display stand. 1.39 grams, 30.6 mm



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

Pillow-shaped tablet with a Sumerian hymn to Sin-idinam, king of Larsa (1849-1843 BC), reading: '5-6 (the gods) granted him to exercise, in a sublime manner, kingship and the priestly office. 7-8 They made him sit upon a seat whose foundation is firm, a radiant throne ... 9-10 Once he had firmly secured the crown and the sublime radiance upon his head. 11 Sin, the firstborn son of Enlil, 12 bestowed upon him a sublime name. 13 Utu, the great judge of the universe, 14 caused law and justice to be established for him]. 15 The praise Sumer [...] ... 16 The vast and shining wisdom ...' 163 grams, 83 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. Accompanied by a translation by M. Guichard. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13269-253330.

Old Babylonian tablets were found in regular excavations from Khafaje and Kish, although, even today, the main body came from dealers. A definite date can be assigned to them only based on internal evidence. The scripts of the tablets vary a good deal: some tablets are written in archaic cursive, others in younger cursive, still others mix archaic and younger sign forms.