Western Asiatic Decorated Bracelet

A possibly complete document written on leather, recto with four lines of Avestan cursive script; verso blank; wide bottom margin with diamond-shaped hole to accept seal string; likely an order rather than a letter due to lack of formal address. 1.16 grams, 77 mm

Fair condition.

David Lindahl, Sweden, 2001. Collection of Bruce Ferrini, USA Central London gallery. Property of a UK collector. For UK buyers only.

A clay tablet of broadly rectangular form, a letter from Šamaš-naṣir (a provincial governor) to his lord, Iluni king of Ešnunna (Tell Asmar), the king passed orders to mobilise the men of Ida-Maraṣ, the name of the country of Ešnunna, to provide grain transport, but the men of the city Zibbatum did not respond to the call despite the governor's request to generals, the people of Zibbatum became apiru, that is, wandering groups; this is a social category well known from the second millennium (notably in the Canaanite texts of El-Amarna) which has sometimes been compared to the Hebrews of the Bible; the tablet reading: 'According to the mission of my Lord, I said to Arahum thus: 'Are not the people of Zibbatum the soldiers of your lord? Why did you make them Apirum?' This is what I said to him and Arahum blamed me, since that time Ibnatum does not cease to be insolent before me and does not cease to hide his troop from me. Yesterday, when I came to my lord, I wanted to inspect him but his troop was not present. I sent one of my servants to the city of Urula, one of my servants to the interior of the country and one of my servants to the city of Labi, his city, in order to (re)lead his troop and himself and until now they have not brought me any news. As soon as they have brought them back to me my lord will hear the punishment I intend to inflict on him. In such a large country as the one my lord has entrusted to me, I...' 183 grams, 10.2 cm wide



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. The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples.

A steel helmet comprising a domed cap and mail curtain; the cap with five radiating applied ribs from the central bronze rosette with hollow bulb finial, applied brow-band, pair of applied plume-holders and bracket for a falling nasal guard; curtain of substantial (1.83-195mm thick) rings forming a mail curtain with triangular extensions flanking the face and protecting the rear of the neck. 1.6 kg, 40 cm high

Some damage to the rear including cracking and deformation, probably due to battle damage.

UK private collection before 2000. UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.

The plume-holders are placed beside two pairs of holes, possibly replacing a previous pair which were removed. Attachment of the mail to the browband is by means of smaller rings which are placed intermittently round the lower edge (or possibly some rings have been lost due to wear-and-tear).