Western Asiatic Glass Vessel Collection

Rebound hardback with full leather binding, central arabesque foliage panel to both covers, fore-edge flap and envelope flap; title page with liquid gold panel inside a frame with cross and colon detailing (:+:); text pages with concentric red, black and liquid gold frame and typically 17 lines of black text with red titles and highlighting, marginal notation; liquid gold header blocks, occasional dense marginal notation; notation to underside of text-block; spine repaired. 587 grams, 11.5 x 16.7 cm



From an important family collection started in the late 1950s. Property of a West London, UK, gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12275-220403.

The text is 'Kitab matalle ammasaraat snarh dalayii alkhayrat' (The Book of Ascension of Delights, Explanation of the Evidences of Goodness) compiled by the Sheikh, writer and historian Muhammad al-Mahdi ibn Ahmad Al-Fasi who died in 1109 A.H. (1697 A.D.) written out by the poet Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Saleh ibn Omar Pasha al-Dimashqi in 1162 A.H. (1748 A.D.).

Restrung designer necklace with two central feature beads; composed of graduated beads of various types of stone, glass and shell. 16.6 grams, 35 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

Similar beads were found during the excavations of the royal tombs of Nimrud. Thousands of beads were discovered in the sarcophagi, including those of Nimrud’s Queens; they probably originally formed part of wide collars with multiple strands.

Group of pillow-shaped tablets, each with cuneiform text to the broad faces and an edge, reading: 218145 : 'Loan of money by a deity during the reign of Sin-iqišam king of Larsa (1840-1836 BC). The tablet was sealed. Idnin-Sîn and Sutitum have obtained from the god Šamaš (a loan of) 5/6 mine 5 shekels of silver, the silver (has) an interest of 4 shekels 1/3. He° will have to repay the money at the time of sowing. Before (the god) Ea, Before (the goddess) Sugallitum Before (the god) Nanna Before Dani Seal of one (of the) witnesses... In the month of Tebitum The year of Sin-iqišam the king. 218145b : sale of a palm grove during the reign of Nur-Adad king of Larsa (1865-1850 BC) 50 sar of orchard, planted with palm trees, next to Kunia, next to Amurutu, on the first small side: Rabutum. Sîn-pilah bought from Huzalum. He paid him its full price of 1/3 silver mine. He swore in the name of Nur-Adad the king that no one would constest in the future. In front of Itišumum In front of Sinennam Before Sugalum Before Kurušum Before Awīl-Amurrim the scribe In the month of šabatu, the year Nur-Adad (offered) a throne of justice (?) ... n°218145c : interest-free loan from the moon god Nanna, during the reign of Warad-Sîn (year 12), king of Larsa (1834-1823 BC) 12 shekels of interest-free silver, from (the moon-god) Nanna, debt of Bitanum. Before Qišti-Enlil Before Dadiya Before Sîn-šemi In the month of Innana, the 5th. The year (the king) built the temple of Ninug... inside (the city of) Maškan-šapir. n°218145d : contract for the sale of a palm grove during the reign of Sumu-el (year 26), king of Larsa (1894-1866 BC) 36 sar of orchard, planted with palm trees, next to Batuli and next to Kutanum, Sin-pilah bought from Bedi-el. He paid its full price 10... of silver. He swore in the name of the king that in the future no one would dispute. Before ... Before Sîn Dayan In front of Naqimum In front of Damu In front of Munakum In the month of Kislimu, the 4th year of the priest of Nanna.' 230 grams total, 47-58 mm



Ex private collection. with Bonhams, Antiquities, London, 21 October 1999, no.260. Private central European collection. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12244-219769.