Western Asiatic Whetstone

Divided into two registers, both showing a contest scene with a horned hero grappling with horned beasts; accompanied by a museum quality impression and a copy of 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 Cream Stone, 28.5 x 12 mm. The engraved sides of this seal are divided into two registers by a single horizontal line. In both registers there is a contest scene. In the upper a standing hero with double belt around his waist succours a bovine on the right and an upended gpat on the left, both of which are being attacked by a lion. The body of the lion on the right crosses the body of a second bovine. In the lower register a standing nude hero succours two differentiated bovines, one of each side, which are being attacked each by a lion, but in this case each lion's body crosses that of a third and fourth bovine. This is a seal in the Sumerian tradition, c. 2500 B.C., from the Third Phrase [sic] of the Early Dynastic periods, and may come from Sumer itself, north Mesopotamia or south-east Iran. It is in good state of preservation and a nice example of its kind.' 8.83 grams, 28 mm



UK private collection, acquired 1990-1993.

Seals were the working signatures of the ancient Near East. Pressed or rolled into wet clay, they secured jars, bags, doors and tablets, and left a distinct impression that identified the owner, authorised a transaction, and showed whether a container had been opened. Stamp seals (pressed once to leave a single emblem) appear from the 7th–4th millennia BC and continue throughout later periods; cylinder seals (rolled to create a repeating frieze) developed in Mesopotamia in the late 4th millennium BC and are used into the 1st millennium BC. Beyond administration, seals were miniature artworks and amulets. Their images—gods and worshippers, royal hunts, banquets, heroes and mythic beasts—broadcast rank, piety and profession, and were believed to protect the owner. Materials range from soft stones to hard chalcedonies, haematite and lapis, worked with drills and abrasives to achieve crisp intaglio cutting. Many were worn on cords or rings and followed their owners through life, sometimes into the grave. Seals matter because they underpin the earliest systems of record-keeping and trade. Impressions on tablets and bullae are primary documents for ancient law, economy and religion; the seals themselves preserve that imagery in the round. For collectors, well-cut examples with sharp impressions, good polish and honest ancient wear are especially desirable, and pieces with early collection histories are keenly sought.

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.

Comprising large triangular and leaf-shaped types with one barbed example. 225 grams total, 94 - 158 mm



Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. 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.

One series of arrowheads seem to belong to the category of lanceolate head and rounded shoulders from the category Type V, i.e. triangular arrowheads with rounded or angular midrib. Some other arrowheads seem to be a subcategory of subtype A of Khorasani but longer.