Western Asiatic Stone Macehead

With frieze of fishes in profile within a field of zigzag lines. 11.5 grams, 37 mm



From the 'S' collection, acquired 1970-1990s. The collection was seen and studied by W.G.Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993. 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.

A large flat-section figure with curled arms, spread legs, lobed head; mounted on a custom-made stand. 3.24 kg total, 36.3 cm wide



Private English collection, 1950s, and kept in England. Ex Atigh Gallery, pre-1986. with Aaron Gallery, acquired from the above. Accompanied by a copy of the 1986 invoice from Atigh Gallery. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12492-230324. 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.

A cluster of copper artefacts dating to 1500-1000 B.C. was found in the Indo-Gangetic plains (region of Uttar Pradesh), including a number of anthropomorphic figures with downwards curving arms, dome-shaped heads, and spread legs. They were cast in moulds and then hammered with often discernible chisel marks. They can be divided in several distinct categories based on their characteristics, and it has been suggested that these idols functioned as protective guardian spirits.

Composed of tubular beads, restrung. 13.2 grams, 37 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. 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.