Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 1357
Western Asiatic Stone Macehead
3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.
3 1/4 in. (310 grams, 83 mm).
With plain globular body and circular short shaft.
Provenance
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990-2000s.
Literature
See Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg, 2003, pl.XXX, no.47, mace of a deity, detail of the image on the “Stela of Kites” Eanatuma, Ngirsu, mid-3rd millennium B.C.
Footnotes
The mace in the Middle East was of great importance, and widely used in fighting activities at the end of the 4th millennium B.C. Many maces of simple spherical or pear-shaped profile have been found there, and they were quickly utilised by the military commanders as symbol of power and rank; limestone maces are still attested in the Marlik culture of 14th-10th century B.C.
CONDITIONVETTING:
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
RELATED LOTS
-
.jpg)
Western Asiatic Stone Libation Bowl
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
With a biconical body and flared foot set off-centre, large U-shaped spout and flat rim. 667 grams total, 11.9 cm
From a collection formed before 1988, London and Geneva. -
Western Asiatic Stone Macehead
3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
With plain globular body and circular short shaft. 310 grams, 83 mm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990-2000s.
The mace in the Middle East was of great importance, and widely used in fighting activities at the end of the 4th millennium B.C. Many maces of simple spherical or pear-shaped profile have been found there, and they were quickly utilised by the military commanders as symbol of power and rank; limestone maces are still attested in the Marlik culture of 14th-10th century B.C. -
Achaemenid Gold Ring with Agate Bull
Circa 500 B.C.Estimate: £5,000 - 7,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,500
Comprising a round-section swivel ring set with a carved Apis bull depicted recumbent with its head turned to the right. 4.71 grams, 27.98 mm overall, 19.07 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)
Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12939-245988.
The Apis bull was a sacred animal in ancient Egyptian religion, worshipped as a living manifestation of the god Ptah and later associated with Osiris and Ra. Regarded as an intermediary between the gods and humanity, the Apis bull was chosen based on specific physical characteristics, such as a black coat with unique white markings. Once identified, it was housed in a grand temple in Memphis, where it was treated with great reverence, adorned with jewellery, and participated in important religious ceremonies. Upon its death, the bull underwent elaborate mummification and burial rituals, symbolising its transition to the afterlife and its continued divine role. The cult of the Apis bull highlights the Egyptians’ deep connection to animals as symbols of divine power and their belief in the interconnectedness of the mortal and spiritual worlds.
