A fine bronze standard finial of the "Master of Animals" type, worked on both sides identically. A tube in anthropomorphic form showing a human with a long nose and jutting ears, grasping the necks of two animals. The center of the figure with a human mask and two protruding cock's heads. Western Iran, Luristan culture, c. 9th-7th century B.C. Provenance: Private Collection, Switzerland. Condition: fine, only slightly bent. With nice patina. Dimension: height: 18.2 cm.

Authentic ancient Luristan, Babylonian type bronze sword circa 1200 -1000 BC. A flanged hilt and blade finely cast in one piece. A very fine example of an authentic Ancient Luristan bronze dagger, of elegant form, from the Bronze Age circa 1200 -1000 BC. A tapering double-edged blade, a shaped hilt with an elliptical pommel, hollowed on each face for a pair of grip-scales...

A Kushan gold necklace delicately strung with very small ancient lapis lazuli beads (approximately 24 beads to an inch). There are 12 gold coins with images of 6 ancient kings - six on each side. There are 2 kings that we recognize - one is Vasudeva I, the other is "Ohsho" holding an elephant goad, thunderbolts, a trident and a goat. The center bead is a oblong fluted gold bead. There are also two blue glass beads flanking the central gold bead. Wearable...

Attractive and interesting bronze seal where a Lion is fighting a Bull with long horns, Neo-Babylonian c. 8th.-6th. century BC.

The seal is round and looks to have been made without handle or drill.

Size: 17 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Very fine, intact with much patina!

Added to the Oberländer collection in 2002...

Wonderful quality cast bronze whetstone handle. Luristan culture, 9th-7th century BC. A large handle measuring c. 12 cm. in length. A cast bronze implement handle with rounded socket to hold a whetstone for sharpening knifes and swords.

In the form of a three-dimensional crouching ibex with long horns curling over its back. The animal is fully rendered with limbs curled under its body and careful attention paid to the details of head and horns...

This exquisite ancient artifact is a bronze sword from the North-Western Asiatic "Amlash" region, which dates back to the 10th-8th century B.C. The sword was discovered in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea area and is a rare find. The intricate design of the hilt is formed of two segments, with the grip featuring a square section. The disk pommel is extended to a conical molding, making it visually striking...

This is a bronze dagger from the Bactrian culture dating to roughly 2000-2500 BC. It is a fine, intact example of ancient bronze weaponry. It measures 173 mm in length and weighs 57 grams. The metal is solid and stable with an "as found" patina. This is a quality weapon at a reasonable price.

Lovely bronze battle axe, Ancient Near East, early 2nd. millenium BC.

Finely made battle axe with a long enforced and narrow blade with a ridge at the top and an elaborately made socket in a zoomorphic shape with a broad decorated backplate.

Size: 114 mm. long and 67 mm. tall.

Condition: Very fine, intact with a rough uncleaned encrusted green patina over beautiful brown and red surfaces. Can be cleaned.

Ex...

A large Zoomorphic style bronze plaque with a loop for attachment on the back, Scythian c. 700-400 BC.

Very attractive the a beast on top of a large spiral; in bronze alloy with some silver content.

Size: 55 mm. tall and 51 mm. wide.

Condition: Nice VF, intact with a black patina.

Ex. Hafnia Coins, ancient coin dealer in Copenhagen, inventory from c. 1990s.

An interesting lot of 4 bronze stamp seals with geomethric bases, Mesopotamia, BMAC and later, 3rd.-1st. mill. BC.

Comes with Gustav Oberländers Identification cards and from his collection.

Size: Up to c. 19 mm. Choice condition, with nice green patinas.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old collections...

A wonderful matching set of three Mace Heads of the rare claw-shaped type, Bactria, 2nd. millenium BC.

Bactrian bronze egg-shaped mace-heads with spiked sleeves or prongs, Late 2nd Millennium BC. The top of the weapons with narrow edge, the sleeves with small internal tangs for mounting them to a shaft.

Size: Max 6,2 cm...

A very atractive bronze seal ring with two standing figures - helmeted and probably female deities, Late Roman, 3rh.-5th. century AD.

The ring of a typical Roman design with raised shoulders and rectangular bezel.

Ringsize (inner diameter): c. 19 mm.

Condition: Very fine, small chip to the side of bezel, attractive museum-style cleaning and preservation. Fully wearable and strong!

Comes with the original collection ID-Card from the Oberländer collecti...

Rare and museum-quality ancient bronze dagger blade from the early Bronze Age, dating back to 2300-2000 B.C. It was found in Asia Minor (Anatolia), specifically in the central part of Northern Anatolia, belonging to the Hattian civilization. The blade is finely cast in one piece and has a tapering double-edged structure with a pointed tip. On each face, there is a pronounced central ridge flanked by two narrow ribs that extend from the tip of the blade to the short tang, which is pierced with a ...

A tanged 'Luristan' bronze dagger or short sword from Ancient Near East, Caspian Sea Area, Bronze age, dating Early-mid 2nd mill BC.

The dagger very heavy fabric sharp shoulders and slight raised midsection tappering to the sharp edges.

Length: c. 32,3 cm.

Condition: Good Very fine nice patina asnd fine metal, uncleaned with deposits.

Ex. Private Collection in Denmark, formed in the 1990's.

A fine and large bronze seal with a loop on the back and a beautiful elaborate cross design, Bactria, c. mid 3rd. millenium BC.

The seal belongs to one of the varied mostly circular metal “stamp seals” relief cast in bronze or copper alloy, but more rarely in silver or gold, which is classified as so-called “compartmented seal” (a term first used in 1943 by the British archaeologist Stuart Pigott – 1943. P. 179–180, fig. 4) fabricated in openwork and with closely related cha...

Bactrian bronze compartmentalized seal, Late 3rd - Early 2nd Millennium BC. Simple design on the round base, tall handle. Beautyful brown patina - attractive!. Interesting design in compartements.

Condition: Superb! Exceptional brown patina!

Provenance: Johan Dæhlfeldt Estate Collection - 40 years of collecting antiquities.

A massive and superbly preserved bronze mace head decorated with faceted knobs around the swollen head and flanked by grooved bands on a tubular shaft, later bronzeage, ca. 1200-800 BC.

Size: Unusually large for type - 14,5 cm. tall and 7,5-8 cm. wide! Weight: 660 grams.

Condition: Intact and very attractine with a wonderful red and green patina.

Ex. Danish Collection of ancient weapons, bought at the Danish Antiquities market in the 1980-90s.

Presented here is a nice bronze spear with raised center ridge. The spear head features a beautiful green/brown patina and measures an impressive 10”. It remains intact and is presented on a custom base for display. Acquired from Malter Galleries in the late 1990’s.

Ancient Near Eastern Bronze 4 Leg Kohl Makeup bottle, 4 legs with bent feet the body has 4 rings interspersed between the legs the bottles neck having a geometric band decoration . Great condition size h 4.25" by 2.75" w

A massive and rare excarvated bronze vessel, likely for the storage of liquids, Byzantine, 6th.-9th. century AD.

Horisontically ribbed body and carinated vertically ribbed shoulder with funnel mouth.

Made in solid metal in a fine vase-like shape, with holes for attaching it to chains. A utility vessel, used for containing foods or liquids.

Size: 34-35 cm. wide and around 35,5 cm. tall, weight 4,2 kilograms - a HUGE piece for this early vessel!

Condit...

A super lot of three ancient tanged Bronze daggers from Ancient Near East. Types of the 3rd.-2nd. mill. BC.

The lot consist of:
1) A choice and beautiful dagger, c. 26 cm, long with high shoulders and a prominent central midrib, 2nd. mill. BC. On this dagger you can see where the handle of bone or wood once was - very interesting!
2) A nice smaller dagger with rounded shoulders, 3rd. millenium BC, 17,8 cm. long.
3) A 23,1 cm. bronze dagger with early type of p...

BRONZE FINIAL IN THE FORM OF THE “MASTER OF ANIMALS”
PERSIAN PERIOD, 1000 – 650 BC

The Master of (the) Animals or Lord of the Animals is a motif in ancient art showing a human between and grasping two confronted animals. It is very widespread in the art of the Ancient Near East and Egypt. The figure is normally male, but not always, the animals may be realistic or fantastical, and the figure may have animal elements such as horns, or an animal upper body.

The Master of A...

This exquisite artifact is an ancient North-Western Asiatic short bronze sword or dagger that dates back to a period between 1200 and 800 B.C. The craftsmanship is truly impressive, as the sword has been cast using the lost wax process to create a perfectly formed solid bronze hilt of oval shape. The hilt is adorned with double rings that give it a unique and elegant appearance. The elliptical pommel extends to the bronze bolsters in the form of animal heads, adding character and charm to the sw...

This fantastic ancient weapon is a bronze dagger or spear from Luristan - ancient Northern Iran circa 1200 BC. This piece is heavy and stable. It has a leaf shaped blade with a strong midrib. The tang tapers to a small 90 degree bend.It has a wonderful patina including malachite and azurite encrustations. This would be a marvelous addition to any collection.It measures just over 26 cm in length and weighs208 grams.

BRONZE DAGGER WITH A DECORATED HANDLE
BRONZE AGE, PERSIA, 1200 – 800 BC

Beautifully made with remains of limestone inlay on the handle, untouched as found.

This fantastic weapon has survived intact and enjoys a gorgeous green crystalized patina and age related encrustation

Dimensions:
Length: 34.5 cm
Width: 2.5 cm
Height on stand: 32.5 cm

Condition: Intact, not repaired and not restored

Nicely mounted on a customs acrylic “Plexi-g...

Choice bronze seal of bell shape with loop, post-Hittite Kingdoms, most likely Urartu, 1st. millenium BC.

With a fine and interesting engraving in the base.

Size: 23 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice Very Fine, green and red patina.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old collections. Gustav Oberländer specialized in early stamp seals f...

Adorable bronze figurine from the medieval period, Islamic, Seljuq Empire, 10th.-11th. century AD.

The Lion standing on erect with stylized double-legs and incised details of the mane and head.

A classic antiquity from this period and does not come better or more charming.

Size: 45 mm. long and 35 mm. tall.

Condition: Superb for type, with very nice metal and great patina.

Ex Bavarian private collection, Germany between 1974-2015.

A large and beautiful green/torquise coloured tanged bronze sword, Ancient Near East dating to the early 1st. mill BC.

Commonly termed 'Luristani' by dealers and collectors.

An elaborate sword blade with shiny light green to torquise patina. Round shoulders and three prominent central midribs forming a lovely pattern running in the full length of the blade, a construction which points to the later manifacturing date of ca. 1100-700 BC.

Size is c. 50 cm., so a ver...

A beautiful larger silver bowl, Sassanian Empire, 300-600 AD.

The Sassanid Dynasty, was the the last native Persian Kingdom to rule Ancient Near East before the Islamic conquest.

An attractive hammered silver bowl, with an scetchy incised animal in the center of the interior and multible concenthric lines around. It looks like a simple bird, but it needs more cleaning to be certain!

Size: ca. 17 cm. wide and 6 cm. tall.

Condition: Choice! A small plug...

A lovely intact late period stamp seal, West Mesopotamian, c. 2nd. mill. BC.

Finely made square stamp seal in a grey stone with a handle atop. The base carved with a Lion vs. Capride.

Size: 30 mm. long, 24 mm. wide and 18 mm. tall.

Condition: Good Very fine, and with fine patina.

This seal was aquired 2007 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquir...

A fine large black serpentine stamp seal of scarce round form, Mesopotamia, Ubaid-Uruk period, 4th.-3rd. mill. BC.

The seal is carved with a fine angled cross motif with triangular forms (arrow-points or wedges) in each field, all a high relief. It has a low pierced handle on the back.

Diameter: 31 mm. and 10 mm. tall - large and impressive seal for it's type

Condition:
This seal was aquir...

A very interesting and rare Scaraboid seal of the Phoenician type, ca. 800-600 BC.

The seal of perfect high scaraboid shape with a low relief stamp of a war elephant engraved in the seal plate. Horisontically pierced for mounting. Extremely rare shiny greenstone used, perhaps a Fluorite, semi-transperant with cloudy green inclusions. Finely patinated and weathered.

Size: 15 x 13 x 10 mm.

Condition: Choice.

Ex. Danish Private Collection

Attractive substantial stamp seal in black-greenish stone with handle Western Mesopotamia, Ubaid-Uruk period, c. 4th.-3rd. mill. BC.

Interestin base carved with three animals incl a large deer with antlers, a Scorpion above and a smaller animal at the rim.

Size: 21 mm. tall and 20 mm. wide.

Condition: Nice Very fine, fine old patina!

This seal comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection, see pictures.

Provenance: Gu...

A thick early cylinder seal in white-yellow marple, carved with the 'eye' or circle/rhomboid form - a characteristic and significant design for the Period.

The Jemdet Nassr Period in seal manifacturing,3300-2900 BC, were spreading from Southern Mesopotamia, where a great number of administrative cuneiform tablets and seals came from. Such seals was used to impress pictures or descriptions into soft, prepared clay. These seals guaranteed the authenticity of marked ownership: as such, t...

A choice and beautiful red carnelian Cylinder seal, dating to the Achaemenid Empire, 7th.-4th. century BC.

Finely carved and polished barrel-shaped, carved with two animals at the sides of a tree. The clay impression, we made is not the best, but the seal is really sharp and attractive in hand.

Size: 19-20 mm. tall.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Provenance: Gert Cleff, Wuppertal, aquired in 1989 at Kölner Münzkabinett Tyll Kroha

A scarce triangular stamp seal, carved in a fine red jasper stone with a grit-pattern in the base, probably 2nd. mill. BC.

Though the motif of the grit pattern points to a pre-historic dating, the choice of stone and the shape and polishing of this seal, probably makes the seal much later, made up in the 2nd. mill. BC.

Condition: Good Very fine.

Size: 18 x 13 mm. and 13 mm. tall.

Condition: Good Very fine.

Added to the Oberländer collectio...

A massive ancient Chlorite stone Chalice with handle, Intercultural style of ancient near East / Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

The vessel carved in a massive chlorite stone with thick walls and high stemmed foot. It has a large handle going from the top to the foot and with a nsculptured rams head at the top. The vessel is decorated with palm trees with small Scorpios on them. Scorpios and snakes are often seen on Southern Kerman and Bactrian stone carvings in the 3rd. millenium, with s...

A seldomly offered ancient stamp seal in good condition with a nice Zig-Zag design, South Caspian Sea area, 5th.-4th. millenium BC.

An low oval stone seal carved in a all black stone and with Zig-Zag at the base low drilled handle at the top.

Size: 22 mm. long

Condition: Nice Very Fine, with some fine wear and patina.

Reff. Close parallels to this seal can be found around button seals from the Sialk level III and Tepe Hissar level 1.

Provena...

Interesting stamp seal of a very large size and depicting a horse, found place border area between Mesopotamia and Anatolia, Antiocheia, Uruk-Jemdet Nasr period, c. 4th.-3rd. mill. BC.

A rare sizeable depiction of a horse from this period.

Size: 35 mm. in diameter and 8 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice VF, intact with some wear from use and some uncleaned deposits.

Comes with imprint and original collection Id card.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer ...

Marple stone stamp seal, Anatolian / Levantine, late 2nd. mill. BC.

The seal of a pyramidal form, pierced through in the top and engraved on the face with the image of a Stagg or antilope with large horns within a frame.

Size: ca. 14 mm. tall

Condition: Choice and intact.

Ex. German Collection (Berlin), collected from the 1980s and onwards. Comes with collectors own notes and photos mounted on filt with a hard wax impression.

An nice early stamp seal in black steatite or chlorite, Halaf period 6th. millenium BC.

The seal was reportedly found at 'Amúg Ebene' in ancient North-Western Mesopotamia, present day Turkey, close to the ancient city of Antioch.

The seal is carved in a triangular shape with a low pierced handle. The seal base below is finely carved with a grit pattern.

Size: 18x16 mm.

Condition: Good Very fine, fine patina.

This seal was aquired 1993 and ...

Interesting stamp seal carved in fine serpentine stone almost black, Mesopotamian, c. 4th. mill. BC.

Rectangular seal, carved with an animal in the base and also finely decorated on the other side.

Size: 19 mm. x 14 mm. 8 mm. thick.

Condition: Choice Very fine.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 1992. Comes with original ID card from the Oberländer collection and imprint!

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired h...

Attractive blackstone cylinder seal, Eastern Anatolia, Hattite/Hittite period of the 2nd. millenium BC.

The seal depicts a large horned animal, probably an antilope, and a much smaller capride, Tree of Life as spacer. Interestingly, the seal is hollowed out perfectly to a high degree.

Size: c. 23 mm. tall and 12 mm. wide

Condition: Choice VF, Attractive with redish dessert patina in the devices.

This seal was aquired 1995 and comes with hard impressi...

A scaraboid stamp seal in black stone, made in the Assyrian client states in Western Mesopotamia, fine mid-Assyrian style, c. late 2nd. millenium BC.

Reportedly found near Antioch.

Winged Deity, probably Ashur tending the Tree of Life, interesting symbols. Stylized scarab carved in an attractive black stone.

Size: 22 mm. long and 20 mm. wide!

Condition: Extremely fine and with a nice patina and still with some sandy deposits.

Provenance: G...

A finely engraved larger stone stamp seal of the hemispheric seal, popular in the Uruk period. The seal in engraved with a pattern that could look like an insect or the head of an insect. Very elaborate.

Size: 26 mm. in diameter and 15 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice VF, small nick and uncleaned deposits, quite attractive.

This seal was aquired 1994 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (192...

A very rare and interesting stamp seal of the 2nd. mill. BC, carved in dark green stone in Anatolia during the Hittite period of dominance.

As typical for the Anatolian culture and glyphtic art, the seal depicting a hunting scene, but in this case a very unusual one. We see a winged Centaur with horse body and the forepart of a human, attacked by numerous spears and arrows, one is burried in his chest. His horned head with human features is turned upwards, while in flight.

Si...

A fine stamp seal of calcified (or burnt?) calchedony, Neo-Babynian, c. 8th-7th. cent. BC.

Attractive trapezoid style seal. These seals are usually carved with Marduk at the alter, but this has a rare depiction of a sword, rhomboid symbol (perhaps and eye) and the Sun and Moon for the two major Babylonian deities of Marduk and Sin. A rare depiction. Size: 22 mm. tall and 20 mm wide.

Condition: Very fine, intact but with some wear around the piercing, hairlines and patina...

Interesting and rare gable seal in a scarce oval form and lovely dark red jasper stone, depicting 4-legged animal, probably feline, Levantine or Anatolian 4th. millenium BC.

A very attractive archaic carving and large for the Jasper stone used.

Size: 30 mm. long and 26 mm wide.

Condition: Very fine, extensive smooth wear but intact.

Comes with the original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer...

A large and well-preserved carved stone cylinder seal from the Pre-Dynastic period of Mesopotamia, c. 3rd. mill. BC.

The seal very sharp and engraved in redish stone with two humans or deities holding hands upside-down and strange multi-legged animal.

Size: 26 mm. tall and 11 mm. wide.

Condition: Near Extremely fine.

This seal was aquired 1993 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberl...

A fascinating and exceedingly rare bronze stamp seal of the Hephthalites or the Whine Huns as they're also known. Hunic Empire of the Hindu Kush, 4th.-6th. century AD.

The seal is of an advanced form with a tall handle ending in an oval loop. The plate is oval and engraved with a fine depiction of a parading horse.

Size: 17 x 16 mm.



Condition: Good Very fine, intact and attractive.

Comes with imprint and COA.

Provenance: Gustav Ob...

A rare and lovely Scaraboid stamp seal in a pink stone, Assyrian, ca. 12th.-10th. century AD.

The shape emulates the Egyptian scarabs from the period, but made in a rare pink hardstone and with a typical later Assyrian stylized design of the seal plate.

Size: 15 mm.

Condition: Superb for type, very hard stone.

Ex. Danish Private Collection

Interesting large bronze seal, engraved with something that looks like signs or numbers, could also really abstract, we're not certain. Mesopotamia, 3rd.-2nd. millenium BC.

Size: 27 mm. tall and 9 mm. wide.

Condition: F-VF, chip at one end and some even wear and patina.

This seal was aquired 1990 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and imp...

A nice and very early Mesopotamian cylinder seal in a scarce stone type of Aragonite, Early dynastic 2600 - 2340 BC.

The seal engraved with an animal fight.

Size: 25 x 12 mm.

Condition: About Very fine.

Provenance: The Karl Müller collection, Germany 1950-1977. Comes with COA and his hard imprint.

A large and fine archaic style serpentine stone stamp seal of the gable type, Ubaid period of Anatolia and Syria, c. 4th. millenium BC.

Recent research clearly indicates that highly advanced city cultures allready existed in the Ubaid period of Anatolia and Syria in the early 4th. millenium BC and perhaps even before that. This predates the Mesopotamian Uruk period, so it's a question who inspired who?.

Lovely scarce seal, sharply engraved with a stylized scorpion.

Carved in black stone with a winged deity between horned animals, fishes and a Scorpion, Kingdom of the Mitanni, 15th - 14th cent BC.

Finely composed and engraved in drill style.

Size: 19 mm. tall and 11 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very fine.

Provenance: Old German collection of fine cylinder seals, Karl Müller, 1950-1977.

A very nice bifacial stone stamp seal of the Tabloid type, North-West Mesopotamia, Uruk, 2nd. half of 4th. mill. BC.

The seal engraved with two angle field and framed crosses.

Size: 18 x 14 mm.

Condition: Good Very fine, some deposits.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 1994. Comes with original ID card from the Oberländer collection and imprint!

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important ...

A nice lot of two provenanced stamp seals, Mesopotamia, Ubaid period, 5th.-4th. millenium BC.

The seals engraved with a grit-pattern and what looks to be a stylized figure (?).

Size: 19 x 17 mm and 22 x 17 mm.

Condition: F-VF, wear and minor chips.

This seals comes with hard impression and original ID-cards from below collection, see pictures.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collectio...

A rare substantial rectangular stamp seal with pronounced handle at the back and engraved with a fine 4 parallel panels of Zig-zag patterns, c. 4th. millenium BC, perhaps somewhat earlier.

Size: 24-25 mm. long and 20 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very Fine, near perfect condition and fine patina.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old collectio...

Attractive larger stamp seal of a particularly fine-corned blackish stone with lighter inclusions, North Mesopotamian, 4th.-3rd. mill. BC.

It's beautiful shape is almost like a turtles shell and is highly polished and glossy. The base is engraved with an archaic style motif of two insect-like monsters fighting. Probably later Uruk period work.

Size: 27 mm. long, 25 mm. wide and 12 mm. tall.

Condition: Extremely fine.

This seal was aquired 1995 and com...

A fine cylinder seal carved in an attractive beige-orange stone, Mesopotamia under the Achaemenid Empire, c. 7th.-5th. century BC.

Nice low relief depiction of the Great King wrestling with stags.

Size: c. 28-29 mm. tall.

Condition: Near VF, intact with some dirt deposits

Ex. Danish Private Collection, this seal aquired in the early 1990s.