Western Asiatic Gilt Silver RepoussÉ Mount with Lion Attacking an Antelope

A conical bowl with D-section wall and shallow discoid foot, ornamented with a procession of three lions seated right in relief around the shoulder; remains of lug handle. 317 grams, 10.2 cm wide

Fine condition.

Acquired before 1983. Ex London gallery, 1990s.

A copper-alloy bowl raised from a single sheet of metal, with a squat tapering body and broad everted rim, the interior punch-decorated with a band of five-pointed stars within roundels to the rim and geometric floral motifs to the bowl, encircled by stylised flowerheads and circlets. 468 grams, 27 cm wide



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

A roughly rectangular clay tablet bearing dense rows of cuneiform text to both principal faces and to each of the four side edges; a letter from Karariya to Ṭaridum, probably a servant of Iluni, Karariya serves a foreign ruler (as indicated by the mention of the deity Hitti) who has just ascended the throne; he is of the same rank as Taridum, who considers him his brother: 'May Šamaš and Hitti preserve my brother alive forever!'; they deal with matters they have in common, a lawsuit to be tried by Karariya, and exchanges of goods between their two houses: 'There are no more wicks (?) for the lamps in my house (...). The wine from my stock is spent and we could not load the donkeys (with wine) for you'; repaired. 110 grams, 82 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.