Western Asiatic Terracotta Jar

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.

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.

Comprising a round-section penannular body and stylised beast-head finials. 18.2 grams, 62 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, 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.