Western Asiatic Mixed Gold Bead Group

The handle fragment from a Tufnell type 484 jar, bearing a stamp to the upper handle with a schematic winged solar disc with lines delineating the upper rays of the sun, inscribed 'Ḥbr[n] / Hebron'. 50 grams, 70 mm



Acquired 1970-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of a description from Peter Gert Van der Veen, senior lecturer of Levantine Archaeology Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. 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.

Squat in profile with narrow basal ring, broad mouth; shoulder with band of ornamental Kufic calligraphic text with silver inlay on a field of leaves and tendrils, reading: 'al-'izz wa'l-iqbal wa'l-dawla wa'l-salama wa'l-sa'ada wa'l-nima wa'l-'afiya wa wa'l-shukra wa'l-shakir[a] wa'l-nusra wa'l-nasirawa'l-'inaya wa'l-baqa da'iman' (Glory and prosperity and wealth and well-being and happiness and divine grace and health and gratitude and gratefulness and victory and favour and long life, perpetually); two strips of silver inlay to the edges of the median band; knotwork arcading below with silver inlay to the weave and pendants. 82 grams, 10 cm wide



with a London, UK gallery 1971-early 2000s. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12545-231976. 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.

Bifacial, pillow-shaped with cuneiform text to both faces; lower end partly absent. 89 grams, 61 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.