Western Asiatic Gold Bead Collection

A mixed group of four stone wheat weights, comprising: one large, roughly biconical haematite example with one flat face; a pebble-shaped haematite weight with one flat face; a slender, haematite weight with flattened ends and one flat face; a smaller roughly biconical haematite example with one flattened face and flattened ends. 113 grams total, 17-48 mm



Acquired 1980s-1990s. H.N. collection, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK.

A pillow-shaped administrative clay tablet bearing cuneiform text to both principal faces, relating to a barley debt; Aramaic graffiti to one edge. 114 grams, 67 mm 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.

The tablet records a promissory note of a typical kind to pay for barley. It concludes with the names of witnesses, town and date. The Aramaic script transcribes the cuneiform name of the debtor into Aramaic script, making it easier for scribes to identify who each tablet refers to. It dates to the Achaemenid period, to the reign of Artaxerxes I (465-424 B.C.). Such late administrative tablets are typically carelessly written, as is apparent on our example as some script has been rendered slanting sharply downwards.

A group of two silver rimonim or Torah finials, each comprising a spherical body with conical finial and tapering cylindrical socket, medial band of dangles with inscription above, embossed and chased stylised floral and foliate motifs to body and socket. 734 grams total, 27 cm each



From a UK private collection.