Details

LOT 0897

Western Asiatic Trans-Tigridian Cylinder Seal

CIRCA 25TH-23RD CENTURY B.C.

1 3/4 in. (23.4 grams, 45 mm).

A shell cylinder seal with scenes in two registers; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder seal of fossil shell, 45 x 17 mm. Two registers: above two seated figures drinking beer from a pot through straw, palm tree terminal. Below: contest scene of hero, two domestic quadrupeds and two lions. trans-Tigridian, c.2500-2300 B.C. Condition fair.'

Provenance

From an important family collection.
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.

Accompanied by a typed and signed note by Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

Footnotes

'Trans-Tigridian' in this context means 'from across the River Tigris', i.e. from the region between the Tigris and the Zagros mountains, between the Iranian highlands and Mesopotamia.