Western Asiatic Green Glazed Bowl with Incised Decoration

Pillow-shaped ceramic tablet with one segmented surface; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Clay tablet, 53x57 mm, with 16 Lines of Sumerian Cuneiform. There are two columns of writing on the obverse only, the second not quite complete. The script dates the tablet to the Akkadian period, c.2300-2200 B.C. There is a chip off the lower edge, but all the writing is in perfect state of preservation. The text is a scholarly list of words and phrases such as scribed writing ur legal and commercial documents might use. Not everything has been understood so far, but some things are perfectly clear: A pot of lard; Bronze; x* of a mina of copper * apparently a fraction; Female kid; Male kid; Its silver 10 shekels; Bed of oak? Scholarly tablets of this kind are extremely rare for the Old Akkadian period. They are part of the scholarly list tradition which is a prominent feature of this civilization.' 68 grams, 58 mm



Ex private collection of Mr S H; thence by descent,1980-1990. Accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993. 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.

Pillow-shaped fragment with cuneiform text to both broad faces. 35.3 grams, 42 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. 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 a short tang and long blade with swept shoulders, raised midrib. 454 grams, 52.2 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. 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.

In the last ninety years, many such tanged blades have been considered coming from production centres of North-West Iran, like Amlash and Marlik, where similar specimens were found. Without context an accurate dating is impossible, but the shape recalls the rapiers of Bronze Age or Early Iron Age.