Western Asiatic Rock Crystal Bead Group

Cylinder with cord and bead handles; accompanied by a copy of an old scholarly note, typed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Description of Cylinder Seal of brown Hematitite (sic), 29 x 15.5 mm. Standing composite figure with human legs and body, but a bird's wings and head, is placed between a large recumbent horned quadruped with long neck and a smaller horned quadruped with short neck; other items; scorpion, hand, fish, star. The whole of the design in enclosed within upper and lower rules. This is a good example of the Mitanni "Elaborate Style", from anywhere between north-western Iran and the eastern Mediterranean. As is normal for such Mitanni seals, the cutting was done entirely with three semi-mechanical tools: the drill, the tubular drill and the cutting wheel. The date will be c. 1500-1250 B.C. The ancient name of the composite figure is not so far known. Save for a gash on the standing figure, the condition is fine.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 14.4 grams, 23 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1980-1983. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note typed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert in October 1987. 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.

Formed with conical headdress and pin to lower body. 10.8 grams, 71 mm



Acquired in Paris and London, 1970s. From a collection of Canaanite gods in bronze, from the collection of a London, UK, gentleman. 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.

Design comprising two pairs of rearing ibexes and other creatures, each crossing its partner forming a saltire; vertical looped-tendril motifs between; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 9.49 grams, 31 mm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. 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.