Western Asiatic Silver Decorated Torc

Figure of a zebu standing with head raised, dewlap to the chin and chest, angled hump behind the shoulders; mounted on a custom-made stand. 215 grams, 11.1 cm wide (357 grams total, 11.7 cm including stand)



Acquired before 1972. with a London, UK gallery. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.10460-170847.

Carinated in form with a rounded shoulder and short everted neck, two hemispherical juglets to the shoulder with pierced bases and strap handles below, one independent loop handle to the shoulder; painted black decoration to the upper body including clusters of vertical lines and vertical bands alternating with zig-zagging. 3.25 kg, 30 cm wide



London, UK, gallery, 1971-early 2000s.

Complete and of spherical form, containing clay 'tokens'; the outer face impressed with enigmatic motifs. 190 grams, 64 mm



Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1988. 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. The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. Accompanied by a copy of two previous illustrated and typed catalogue pages.

The tokens sealed within the bulla are believed to have been used as part of the accounting process in Sumerian or early Uruk agriculture.