Western Asiatic Terracotta Zoomorphic Vessel

Bulbous body with four stub legs, tall neck and internal strainer, tall scooped edge to the rim, loop handle to the rear; body and neck painted with geometric motifs, red paint on the base and legs. 1.16 kg, 32.3 cm



UK collection, 1990s. Acquired on the UK art market, before 2000. Private collection, Mr M.V., a London-based businessman.

Artefacts from Amlash date from the late second millennium B.C. through to the Partho-Sasanian period, with most dated to the 9th and 8th centuries B.C. Zoomorphic drinking or ritual vessels are abundant in Amlash pottery and usually feature depictions of animals common to that region. Such vessels have been recovered across Mesopotamia and Anatolia, and they were known as Bibru. They were produced as ceremonial drinking vessels, dedicated to specific deities, but they might also have served as drinking vessels for the social elite and royal family members.

Formed as three vertical bars joined near the base; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Bronze 54 x 48 x 26mm This bears the shape of the design, with flat face and flat back, on which is mounted a handle of angular shape with rounded top. The piece has roughly three parallel vertical segments, which join in the middle, the whole being surrounded by a rim. Each segment has a row of dots in it: four in the two outer segments, six in the middle one, which is longer. This comes from western central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It is extremely rare for its design, which may be understood as a stylized depiction of a standing four-winged god, but this is not completely certain.The piece is generally in good condition, but is a little bent.' 25 grams, 53 mm



Ex S collection, deceased, London, UK, 1990s. Accompanied by an original scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert.

A restrung string composed of alternating carnelian and quartz beads interspersed with silver pomegranate-shaped beads, a large lozenge-shaped bead at the centre. 31.2 grams, 30 cm long



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.