Western Asiatic Jasper Cylinder Seal with Seated Figures

The lower body formed as slender flutes in relief, concentric rings to the interior, resting on a flaring shallow foot, possibly Parthian. 590 grams, 18.8 cm wide



Acquired on the London art market, 1971-1974. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11785-206404.

The wealth of the Sassanid court has been confirmed by archaeological excavations that have unearthed shallow vessels, among which bowls forged from precious metals like silver, likely used to drink wine in the palaces and at the court of the Šāhanšāh (King of Kings). The production of silver vessels and dinner objects for the court was highly centralised within the empire. In the 5th and 6th century A.D., this production expanded, creating new shapes, such as pitchers, elliptical bowls and high footed bowls, also used by the middle class. This vessel is continuing the tradition of the vessels in the Arsacid court.

Squat dish with conical profile, flange rim; finely detailed painted foliage to the inner face; very rare. 117 grams, 15 cm wide



From the important family collection of the late M.N., pre 1992.

Recto bearing twenty-one incomplete lines of cursive Avestan text concerning a list of sheep supplied, reading: '...which from...a list for... and (?) which from the requisition...in the city...[from] Yolan: three sheep.-From Kh[...]yog: three sheep.-From [...]z: two sheep.-From Pap: three sheep.-From Nat-[...]nd: two sheep.-From Waraz-warahran:...sheep.-From Bagwye-shan: one sheep.-From Yolwyeshan: two sheep.-From Mihrbaman: one sheep.-From Bag-mareg: one sheep.-From Wind-fruman-yamsh together with Piyar-yamsh: one sheep.-From Bakh-arag:...sheep.-...-[From...]man: one sheep.-From Bib-sen: one sheep.'; verso bearing five incomplete lines of text; accompanied by a typed transcription and translation of the text, additional contextual information and bibliographic references. 3.81 grams, 19.5cm long

Fair condition.

David Lindahl, Sweden, 2001. Collection of Bruce Ferrini, USA. Central London gallery. Property of a UK collector. For UK buyers only, this item is not exportable from the UK.

The Bactrian kingdom of southern Transoxiana was only known from a handful of inscriptions, seals and coins until circa 1991, when a cache of around 150 documents was discovered in an archive belonging to the ruler of the city of Rob, dating between the 4th-8th century AD, leading to major developments in the understanding of the Bactrian language. Many of these documents were sold on the art market and collected by Dr. David Naser Khalili for his Nour Foundation.