Western Asiatic Gold Heart-Shaped Pendant

Each plano-convex in section with ring-and-dot eyes. 9.91 grams, 69.77-76.04 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

Restrung designer necklace of three strands connected by a median vertical column; comprising mainly gold tubular beads with ribbing to the outer face, polyhedral carnelian beads, irregular green glass beads, square-section lapis lazuli beads and other types; the lower node a larger polyhedral lapis lazuli bead with a loop of barrel-shaped gold beads and other types. 78 grams, 57 cm



Acquired in the 1980s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

D-shaped in profile with a round-section loop; obverse with a reserved scene of two lions with hatched detailing to the fur advancing towards a small quadruped placed perpendicular to them; reverse with a median eagle with wings extended and feather detailing, flanked by rearing serpents and a scorpion; mounted on a custom-made stand. 6.25 kg total, 28.3 cm high including stand



with Gallery Rosen Ancient Art, Tel Aviv, 10 November 1969. Ex London, UK, gallery, 1971-early 2000s. London, UK, collection. Accompanied by a copy of an original invoice from Gallery Rosen Ancient Art, 10 November 1969. 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.13246-252973.

Among the most iconic intercultural style objects are the so-called 'lock' or 'handbag' weights. They have been found in a variety of different colourful stones, such as breccia, chlorite, fossiliferous limestone, calcite and onyx. At the beginning, these objects were probably not weights at all, but were likely badges of high office, carried to indicate authority. Similar objects have been found throughout Mesopotamia, the islands of the Persian Gulf, on the Iranian steppe, and in the Indus Valley.