Western Asiatic Eye Pendant

D-section hoop with forked terminals, large bezel with a carnelian intaglio engraved with a lozenge-shaped grid of magical symbols, four sprigs surrounding; underside stamped with 'H 925'. 7.05 grams, 30.66 mm overall, 20.42 mm internal diameter (approximate size British V 1/2, USA 10 3/4, Europe 24.4, Japan 23)



Private collection, London, UK. 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.

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 Faience with Green Glaze 43 x 17 mm. The design, which is contained within a line above and another beneath, consists of two scenes of worship. The one shows a stylized sacred tree with a central trunk and five branches each side, all ending in buds, then a pendant hanging from each lowest branch on either side. On left and right and facing the tree are worshippers, both with hands raised. The other scene has two similar worshipers, facing each other with hands raised. Between them the area is divided in the middle by a guilloche. Above it is a stag falling onto its neck, below it is another kind of horned animal, but recumbent and turning its head. This seal is Mitanni, c. 1500-1200 B.C and from anywhere in the area between Syria and Western Kurdistan. It is a product of the Hurrian civilization and the stylized tree is a symbol of the Storm God, Hurrian Teshub, Babylonian Adad, Hebrew Hadad or Baal. The horned animals occur commonly on Mitanni seals, and this seal proves that they are symbolic of some god, but it is not known which one. The guilloche is a standard decorative filler of the period. Faience is a manufactures substance, comparable with the modern porcelain. In the ground it often deteriorates over the centuries and has a powdery surface. This one, however, is in good condition, the only mark of its age being that the glaze has lost something of its original colour, which was turquoise This is an unusually large seal and important since seals of this size and quality are extremely rare.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 11.3 grams, 42 mm



From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.P31. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert dated September 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.

With round female body and short neck, depicted armless, perforated with two parallel holes at the top for suspension; the edges and the centre embossed with dots. 6.87 grams, 63 mm



From a private family collection formed since the early 19th century, thence by descent. Property of a New Zealand legal professional. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12319-223722. 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.

These idols have a broad chronological and spatial range, with late variants known from Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age burial contexts in central Europe and Western Asia. Some of these idols have round bodies, and heads in the form of tabs. They developed from the earlier stone idols, leading to the representation of the human form becoming even more stylised when crafted in silver or copper.