Western Asiatic Miniature Glass Vessel

Comprising a barrel-shaped collar with raised corrugated rim to each end; flat-section curved neck with beast-head finial, incised circular eyes, long curved horns. 115 grams total, 84 mm including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Raised from a single sheet with conical body and everted rim, three striding ibexes in repoussè, each with its head held up high and depicted with defined musculature and genitalia; band of ovule decoration above and below, three hanging flowers separating the ibexes; the base with a an eight-petalled flower; late Elamite or Marlik. 153 grams, 12 cm



with Mahboubian Gallery, New York, acquired prior to 1966. Property of a London gentleman. 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 a search certificate no.12161-218632.

This splendid vessel, decorated with a design possibly of Elamite origin, probably originates from North-Western Iran, or from South Caspian Area. Hammered sheet vessels were produced in Western Iranian metal workshops since the 3rd millennium B.C. (Moorey, Bunker, Porada, Markoe, 1981, p.82). By far the closest parallels are from Marlik, Kaluraz and Hasanlu, where finds of silver and gold vessels with animal friezes, and also of the same form and style of animal depiction and body decoration are recorded (Negahban, 1964, figs. 103, 108, 109, 111, 113, 136, 140, 144, pls. IV, VIIIA, XII, XVI).

Broad flat hoop with horizontal bands of hatching, pellets and rosettes; slightly flared ends with tendril and rosette motifs. 69.7 grams, 67 mm



UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.