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LOT 1779
Western Asiatic Carnelian Cylinder Seal with Animals
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
1/2 in. (0.68 grams, 13.97 mm).
Frieze with bird in flight above a crouching quadruped, among trees; supplied with a museum-quality impression. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Large Mamluk Silver Ring with Star of David
Circa 13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
Wide, decorated hoop with a raised rosette at the base, large flower-shaped bezel with supporting bars, scroll motifs forming the border and a six-pointed star at the centre. 41.91 grams, 34.38 mm overall, 20.54 x 17.81 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18)
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Western Asiatic Carnelian Intaglio
Late 19th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
An oval intaglio with a loosely arranged calligraphic inscription. 1.13 grams, 16 mm
Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Private collection, London. -
Babylonian Agate Bead Necklace with Gold Beads
9th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,150
Restrung necklace of tubular and fusiform beads with interstitial gold tubular beads, three D-shaped plaques with granulated gold caps, one pierced to accept a pendant. 43.24 grams, 31 cm
Private collection, acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s; thence by descent. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13207-249239.
Texts from Neo-Babylonian times in various archives, such as that of Eanna, concern the smelting of metals for the construction or repair of specific objects, including necklaces. One example from the archive (NCBT 184 - Npl 9 III 1) obv. 3 recites: '3 minas 26 shekels of gold (were) put into the kiln for the necklace of dubkåtu (beads) of Nanåya. It (the gold) is (now) at the disposal of Sadûni. (It was weighed) according to the 3 mina weight of bronze and (smaller) weights of iron.' The jewellers were responsible for cutting the precious stones and beads that were set in the jewellery and other ornamentation produced by the goldsmiths. In this capacity, they were issued beads and unworked pieces (takkassu, sibirtu) of various semiprecious stones, including agate (pappardilû), carnelian (samtu), eye stones (na igiII.mes), lapis lazuli (uqnû), and turquoise (asgikû).
