Western Asiatic Haematite Cylinder Seal with Presentation Scene

Haematite cylinder seal featuring two horizontal registers with worshipping parades comprising long-robed male priests wearing ankle-length garments, seated on the stool-shaped throne, elegantly raising their left hands to hold a cup; other male priests in long garments either holding a vessel containing holy water or oil, or standing in a solemn gesture with hands raised or clasped in front of their chests. 5.26 grams, 32 mm



Acquired in the 1990s. Ex West London family collection. Property of a Bristol, UK, gentleman.

Iconographies and religious scenes seen on Early Dynastic seals are renowned for the further elaborations that depict contesting scenes, usually portraying nude heroes confronting bull-men or rampant, roaring lions. However, animals and heroes were not employed as the favourite motifs during the last part of the Early Dynastic period. Increased popularity of funerary art and banquets were richly practised in Ur, given an ample amount of royal cylinder seals that bear banquet or seated-king related scenes. On Early Dynastic cylinder seals, the image of a seated male figure holding a cup cannot always be interpreted with an extender divinity. It might have suggested a ruler's identity within a royal banquet scene. However, on this seal, the holy vessel and the representations of male worshippers indicate a clear religious significance. Within the traditional Mesopotamian religion, secular kings would have obtained divine power if they had engaged with the goddess Inanna during a sacred marriage. The cup, containing holy ointment or oil, held in the king's hand, might have been as an emblem to signify the elevated rank of a deified king. It might also have been used as an alternative religious practice, connecting the secular authority and the divine power during the Early Dynastic period.

Rectangular tapestry panel with repeating designs of a circular border with reserved hexagons enclosing the head and neck of an advancing horse in profile, opposed pairs of ducks with curled wings; mounted on a wooden-framed fabric backing. 365 grams, 34.6 x 25.6 cm



Acquired from Esther Fitzgerald Rare Textiles, London, UK. Property of a North American gallery.

Tightly-coiled wire band with graduated profile, domed disc closure with repoussé central boss and pellets to the rim, pendant formed as a rectangular frame enclosing two fusiform banded agate and another fusiform bead, barrel-shaped gold collars and coiled wire finials. 37.20 grams, 66 cm



with Ancient and Islamic Art Ltd, 1993. Private European collection, early 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12426-218224.