A choice collection of unresearched stamp seals, all with different designs, c. 6th.-3rd. millenium BC.

The small collection includes seals carved in a variety of stones; there's a gable seal from the 4th. millenium, several early rectangular seals with cross patterns, some with grit-patterns and a couple of later stone seals, one with a 'sun' pattern, probably from the Persian hemisphere.

Size: Up to 2 cm...

Superb quality antique medieval 9th - 10th century A.D. Viking warrior spearhead. This beautifully and extremely well hand forged steel spearhead has a sturdy, tapered, diamond cross-section blade chiseled on both sides with two narrow fullers.

Interesting and quite rare light brown stone cylinder seal, Early 3rd. millenium BC.

A beautiful and highly concave cylinder seal carved with long centripeds! The seal dates to the 3rd. milleniun BC - Pre-Early Dynastic. Finely carved and high attractive!

Size: 22 x 16 mm...

Lot of three very attractive and massive Sasanian stamp seals in beautiful stones, all with engravings relative to the Gilgamesh myth in low relief, 3th.-6th. cent. AD.

A nice lot that we bundle to safe listing time!

Diameter: 30, 31 and 26 mm.!

Condition: Fine to Very Fine.

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

South German Nuremberg hand-hammered brass alms dish, late Gothic, early 16th century, circa 1500-1530 AD, with a rare pattern stamped in relief. The artwork portrays the Blessed Virgin Mary standing with Christ the Child. She is depicted as the Queen of Heaven, standing upon the crescent moon and surrounded by a mandorla of sun rays. She is dressed in elaborate garments and wears a crown...

Onion-shaped vessel with finely impressed ribs on the rounded exterior of the body.
The flat shoulder topped by a narrow neck with flared bell mouth. The thin handle curves from neck to shoulder.
The vessel is covered with an attractive jet black glaze that creates a brilliant reflection in any light.
Reserved just above and underneath the base.
For comparable examples, cf. Beazley Archive database nos...

Interesting stamp seal in a greenish black stone, Anatolia, Neo Hittite states of the late 2nd.-early 1st. millenium BC.

The seal with high pierced handle and oval base, engraved with what appears to be scriptsigns, perhaps Luwian, we're not experts in these.

Size: 22 mm tall and quite massive...

Interesting and massive bronze ring with standing human on the Bezel, Amlash / South Caspian Sea area, c. early 2nd. millenium BC.

An unsually large ring for it's type. Normally these are decorated with applied patterns on a spiral - in this case the ringmaker also found space for a standing human figure with a weapon or a staff in his left hand, likely a mythical figure or a warrior. Lovely red and blue-green patina!

Size: The round bezel measure 27 mm...

A nice larger terracotta fertility figure of female form, Bajaur (Indus Valley), c. 3000-2500 BC.

A hollow mould-made Indus Valley red terracotta statuette modelled in a stylised manner with applied facial features of birdlike form. Also with applied arms and beasts on the cone-shaped body.

Size: 14,5 cm. tall and 8 cm...

An unusually large and choice terracotta fertility figure of female form, Bajaur (Indus Valley), c...

An unusually large and choice terracotta fertility figure of female form, Bajaur (Indus Valley), c. 3000-2500 BC.

A hollow mould-made Indus Valley red terracotta statuette modelled in a stylised manner with applied facial features of birdlike form. Also with applied arms and beasts on the cone-shaped body.

Size: 21 cm. tall and 8 cm. wide.

Condition: Choice for type, almost completely intact minor loss to nose, no modern repairs and with nice patina.

E...

Rare ancient Romano-Celtic solid silver zoomorphic fibula brooch, finely hand-shaped as a wild boar. Roman Empire 1st-2nd century AD.

The fibula is not cast like most Roman and Celtic fibulas but is entirely handmade. The board and the base are hand-cut from solid silver plaque, hand-sculptured, and then chiseled with fine details.

Also, the attachment pin is entirely handmade.

In Celtic mythology, the wild boar represents the Celtic God "Moccus," who is identified with Mercury. He...

Ancient palstave axe, originating from Europe. The axe dates back to 1400-1200 B.C., making it an ancient relic of historical value. It is made of cast and polished bronze and has a typical form. The massive axe head features a dramatic flared vertical blade, a thick blade neck with a recessed triangular design, two lateral hafting flanges, and a thin stop bar.

The skilled craftsmanship showcased in the axe is a testament to the advanced metallurgical techniques of early civilizations. Its ...

Very rare, museum-quality, ancient Canaanite short sword-dagger that originated from the Holy Land during the early Bronze Age IV (2300-2000 BC). It was made during the time of the biblical patriarch Abraham and is cast and hammered from bronze. The sword has a double-edged tapered blade with a bulged cardinal nerve and slanted shoulders. Additionally, the heart-shaped tang is pierced with eight rivet holes, which were used to attach handles made of a different material. Four rivets remain in p...

Ancient Hittite 2000 B.C. -1500 B.C. Western Asia, Anatolia, bronze figurine of a Zebu Bull standing majestically on four legs with horns, body pierced with a hole for suspension. Cast with fine details using a lost wax method.

MEASUREMENTS: Overall length: 4.8 cm (1.89 inches). Height: 4.5 (1.77 inches) Weight: 48 grams.

CONDITION: In good condition considering its age to be over 2700 years, showing its age and usage with a green patina and earthen mineral deposits, one horn bro...

Ancient 5th -3rd century B.C. Scytho - Siberian (Siberian Scythian) solid silver belt plaque in the shape of a crouched feline perhaps a leopard fitted at the reverse with two loops for attachment. The two attachment loops are made of silver strips soldered to the rear of the plaque. The plaque is cast, then hand reshaped in repousse, pierced, and chased.

MEASUREMENTS: Overall length in a straight line:7.5cm (2.95 inches). Width: 3.1 cm (1.22 inches). Weight: 28 grams.

Provenance...

Authentic, ancient, cast bronze Etruscan hand mirror. It dates back to Etruria (Italy) around 350-200 BC and is in a typical Etruscan form with a tapered stem handle. It is shaped like a circular disc with a slight concave on the reverse and has a pronounced two-stage lip engraved in concentric circles. The lip is also incised with a continuous groove around the rim and adorned with an engraved lobed rosette in the form of a flower head.

This mirror is a rare example of a children's mirro...

This is an exceptional piece of history - a museum-quality bronze axe head from the Luristan region, dating back to the period of 1250-900 BC. The axe head boasts a unique design, featuring a flaring and downward-curved blade accentuated by central and side reliefs. The cylindrical ribbed shaft enhances its aesthetics, and four conical spikes ensure stability. This artifact offers a glimpse into the ancient world and the remarkable craftsmanship of that era.

MEASUREMENTS:

Overall len...

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...

An important Germanic Visigothic belt buckle from the Migration Period, 6th century AD, Kingdom of the Visigoth, Iberian Peninsula.

The buckle plate is rectangular and has been made using the Cloisonne technique.

The front surface of the buckle is adorned with lozenge-shaped natural lapis lazuli stone set in a solid gold setting. It is surrounded by green and cobalt blue glass and copper alloy straps.

The rectangular plate has been connected to a thick oval loop by two hinge...

This remarkable artifact is a bronze sword that dates back to the 14th and 10th century B.C. It was discovered in the North-Western Asiatic-Caspian Sea area and features a finely cast tapering double-edged blade with a median ridge. At the ricasso, there is a raised penannular panel that adds a unique touch to the sword's design. The grip is integral, with flanges to the edges that make it easy to hold, and each face is hollowed to insert a pair of grip scales. Originally, the handle would have ...

Ancient Egyptian or Canaanite bronze 'Duckbill' axe-head, Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom 2100– 1500 B.C.

Sturdy cast in two halves with a triangular blade, a medial ridge flanked with two oblong openings, and a small round eye for inserting a wooden socket.

Such duckbill axes were mainly produced in Egypt and Syria-Palestine during Phase IIA of the Middle Bronze Age, roughly contemporaneous with the 12th Dynasty in Egypt.

At that time, these territories were under the rule of...

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. The penannular guard is elliptical in shape and holds a double-edged tapering blade with a...

Ancient Scythian iron short sword-dagger also known as an Akinakes, Acinaces or Akinak, dating back to the 6th-5th century B.C. and was found in the Northern Black Sea Region. It has a sturdy, double-edged tapering blade, a flattened hilt with a ribbed grip, a rectangular and butterfly-shaped guard, and a T-shaped pommel.

REFERENCES:​

1."De l'épée scythe au sabre mongol: Les armes blanches des nomades de la steppe IXe siècle avant J-C - XIXe siècle après J-C" by Iaroslav Lebedy...

A very rare and interesting Early Christian / Coptic drinking cup, Egypt, 1st. cent. BC-4th. century AD.

Attractive cup, shaped much like the greek Kylix, low with twin handles. Finely decorated in torquise and black line decor. The motif includes a large cross, a flower, a podium? and arrow symbols.

Size: 14 cm. in diameter incl. handles and 4,8 cm. tall.

Condition: Choice, looks intact, but we think there's a restoration of a crack, very professionally made. ...

Ancient Egyptian alabaster fragment, depicting a male head wearing a large, striated wig, with remains of facial details. Appears to have a hand holding the head, from the back of the head. 3 inches wide X 2 1/4 high. Middle Kingdom, early 12th Dynasty, period of Amenemhat I/Sesostris I, 1938-1875 B.C. Mounted. From an old NYC private collection. Said to be from an old British private collection, purchased on the London art market @ 3 years ago. For similar see -https://www.sothebys.com/en/au...

An ancient Roman marble hand, with defined fingers and fingernails. Hand grasping, what appears to be remains of a dagger. With extensive remains of encrustations. 1st-3rd century AD. From a NYC private collection. Said to be purchased on the London art market in the late 1990s. 3 1/2 inches wide X 4 1/4 inches high. Mounted.

Fine larger figural stone stamp seal of Anatolia or Northern Syria, Ubaid-Uruk period, 4th. millenium BC.

Nice carving in an attractive black serpentine stone, with the typical 'gable' handle, so popular in the Ubaid/Uruk period of Anatolia and Syria.

Size: c. 30 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Very Fine and intact, smooth wear and fine patina.

Comes with the original ID-card from below collection!

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

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 nice and interesting large ceramic seal, square seal plate with small knob handle at the back and depicting animals within a square dotted border.

Size: c. 6 cm. wide.

Condition: Very fine.

Ex. Danish Private Collection.

Terracotta bowl enamelled with coper green and manganese yellow ocher on a cream ground, incised decoration of scrolls and stylized flowers. Persia around the year 900 Nichapur kilns. Diameter 27cm. Broken and glued. On the back an English collection label. The style is inspired by Chinese ceramics of the Tang dynasty

Large terracotta bull with prominent horns and a pronounced hump on the back. The holes for the wheel axles on the integrated base are indicative of a child's toy.
Also the small hole at the very front of the base, which was used to attach a pull cord.
Terracotta
Near Eastern, 1st millennium BC
H. 17.1 cm (6.7 in), L. 14.2 cm (5.6 in)
Encrusted and worn, but intact.
Private NYC collection, acquired 1970s-1980s. Joined by several labels from PB 84 (Parke...

One more of the fine large stamp seals from the Oberländer collection. A rare rendering in fine style, Parthia or early Sasanian, 1st.-4th. century AD.

The seal is carved in a beautiful milky-white and agate. The carving shows a seated female, perhaps a woirshipper in fancy cloths.

Size c. 27-28 mm. wide and 22-23 mm. tall.



Condition: Nice Very Fine for type, intact with some wear around the base and drill.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (19...

Seal pendant or amulet, finely carved in a zoomorphic style, as a head of an animal, possibly made to ellude a pigs head, Mesopotamia, Uruk - Jemdet Nasr period, 3500-2900 BC.

A wonderful amulet with refined polished details and a nice archaic grit pattern in the base.

Size: 21-22 mm.

Condition: Extremely fine, highly attractive. Nice patina with deposits.

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

A large and rare stamp seal made in a superbly mottled black and white diorite stone, South Mesopotamia, Late Uruk / Jemdet Nasr period, 3300-2900 BC.

Domed hemispheric seal with a fine free carving in a drill style of multiple running animals.

Size: 35-36 mm. in diameter, quite large for this fine diorite seal.

Condition: Good Very fine, one ancient chips to the side and fine wear, but basically intact and highly attractive.

Provenance: Gustav Oberlä...

An interesting collection of 22 metal and stone antiquities dating from c. 1st mill BC to Byzantine / Medieval period.

Lot consist of 5 spindlewhorls - 4 with decorations - three in lead and two in ceramic. 15 tokens and weights in bronze and lead and finally two bronze dices.

Sizes up to 23-25 mm.

Ex. Hafnia Coins stock, bought in Denmark in the late 1990s.

A nice set of three larger ancient bronzes for clothing. A darkage fibula, Eastern Goths or Saxon, c. 5th-6th. century AD. A northern European clasp for a coat, Viking Period, 8th-10th cent and a later medieval beltstrap.

Sizes: c. 55-70 mm.

Condition: F-VF, missing pins.

Ex. Hafnia Coins stock, bought in Denmark in the late 1990s.

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...

Interesting bronze stamp seal of square form with loop, Late Hittite Kingdoms, Levantine, 1st. millenium BC.

A very attractive seal with a square base, decorated sides and a fine and interesting engraving in the base.

Size: 24-25 mm. tall.

Condition: Extremely fine for type, lovely dark green patina with light deposits.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at r...

Interesting bronze seal of bell shape with loop, Late Hittite Kingdoms or Urartu, 1st. millenium BC.

A lovely seal octagonal and with a fine and interesting engraving in the base.

Size: 22 mm. tall.

Condition: Extremely fine for type, lovely dark 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 Ob...

Interesting small bronze pendant seal with a hing at the top, depicting a fine naturalistic Rabbit or Hare, Roman, 1st.-3rd. cent AD.

A rare find of a stamp seal from the roman period.

Size: 18 mm.

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 from the pre-historic and Dynastic civi...

Interesting and unusually large decorated bronze tweezer, likely Roman but could be much older, perhaps late bronzeage European.

The tweezer measure 10,8 cm. in lenght and is solidly constructed and finely decorated with lines. Two tiny rivets in the low area. The design is most likely Roman, but the fine execution and the rivets could point to an earlier manifacture date.

Condition: Nice VF, absolutely lovely red-brown patina, but a c. 30% loss at one side.

Ex....

A nice small collection of 19 seal bullae stamped in lead, dating from c. 12th.-14th. century for the oldest up to c. 17th.-18th. century!

Interesting group incl. several with Coat of Arms and perhaps also city stamps.

Size: Up to c. 4,8 cm.

Ex. Hafnia Coins stock, bought in Denmark in the late 1990s. These were priced from €40-€100 each!

A fine lot of 5 stone stamp seals of the hemispheric or button-shape in different kind of stones incl. serpentine and chlorite, North/west Mespotamian 5th.-4th. millenium BC.

The seal bases mainly engraved with different cruci- forms, but there's also a much earlier Halaf period seal in this lot.

Size: Up to c. 16-17 mm. in diameters

Condition: Mostly intact and very fine, one seal with a crack, another with smaller losses and wear.

Provenance: Gust...

Wooden panel inlaid with mother-of-pearl, bone and ebony. It must be a piece of a very nice old Ottoman part of furniture. This type of decoration was made from the 16th century in Turkey at the height of the empire and is found today on very rare prestigious furniture. The style, quality and inlays (which are very thick) of this panel should allow a specialist to date it with precision. Length about 25cm. With a lot of luck, maybe this panel will find its original furniture? Otherwise it w...

A collectors lot of 5 stamp seals in different kind of stones incl. serpentine and chlorite, made in semi-autonomous Neo-Hittite states of Syria and Levante, during the Neo-Assyrian period, early 1st. millenium BC.

The seals mostly of the tall pyramid shape, but there's also a 4-side rectangular seal, engraved with symbols on all 4 sides and vertically drilled. Another fine seal is cones-shaped and with a high relief engraving of the base.

Size: Up to 15 mm. max height. ...

A nice study lot of 5 stamp seals in different kind of stones incl. serpentine and marple, made in semi-autonomous Neo-Hittite states of Syria and Levante, during the Neo-Assyrian period, early 1st. millenium BC.

The seals mostly of the tall pyramid shape, but there's also a double-side rectangular seal. The bases and sides engraved with crosses and other symbols.

Size: Up to 17 mm. max height.

Condition: All intact.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1...

Bottle with a long stretched neck harmoniously twisted in the shape of a swan's neck. The glassmaker shaped his work with gadroons, a painter decorated it with golden flowers. This type of object was a teardrop intended to receive the tears of ladies when their husbands went to war. The almond shape of the edge adapts perfectly to the eye. These vases were made from the 18th century and throughout the 19th. especially in 1900. Copies are probably still made. It is impossible for me to date this ...

A lovely and very rare early seal pendant with recessed animal, Northern Mesopotamia, c. 5th.-4th. millenium BC.

Late Halaf period large oval pendant with flat backside and the seal engraved with a four-legged animal, loop at the top.

Size: c. 27 mm. tall.

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 i...

A fine black stone stamp seal with high relief, Ancient Near East Uruk period, c. 2nd. half of the 4th. millenium BC.

High relief cross with recessed circles in each quadrant.

Reff. See Christies sale of the Erlenmeyer collection 6th. june 1989, lot 208 for a quite similar representation (finds in Tepe Sialkh and Tepe Hissar).

Size: 21-22 mm. in diameter and 11-12 mm. tall.

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

Interesting bronze stamp seal, engraved with Lion in the drill style, 9th.-7th. century BC.

A knobbed seal, carved with a vivid Lion in the Neo-Assyrian style but with a likely place of manifacture to the North-East of the Neo-Assyrian Empre.

Size: 19 mm.

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...

Rare libation bowl with twelve egg-shaped cavities around the central omphalos. The recesses served to hold votive eggs.
On the inside of the segmented rim twelve neatly modeled youthful heads with Phrygian caps.
Egg-and-dart decoration along the rim, on top and around the base of the omphalos.
The surface is covered with a yellow wash to imitate metal prototypes.
Surviving terracotta counterparts are connected with Tarentum, where toreutic workshops were particularl...

An exceptional stamp seal in a fine harder greyish green stone, Anatolia / Northern Syria c. 4th. millenium BC.

The base of the seal is engraved with a fantastic and very graphical depiction of a flock of birds in flight.

A superb Gable seal type with perfect symethri and sharp lines and the impressive size makes it worthy of any collection of early seals.

Size: 60 mm. long and 29 mm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine, smooth glossy patina with no wear...

Large bronze cross pendant in a hollow style with two halfs put together.

Likely Eastern Europe, 12th.-14th. century AD.

Size: c. 38 mm. quite heavy.

Ex. Hafnia Coins stock, bought in Denmark in the late 1990s.

A highly unusual bronze seal with a 14,3 cm. projecting handle, Bactria, Hindu-Kush area, c. 3rd. millenium BC.

A very rare design of the handle which suggests that it could have been for heating and perhaps marking lifestock?, interesting and with a beautifuly carved star design of the base. First time in stock ever.

Size: Handle is 14,3 cm. long and 2,5 cm. diameter of the star shaped seal.

Condition: Rough Very fine for type with typical uncleaned vivid gre...

An low oval stone seal of the Cruciform design family, Northern Syria or Mesopotamia, Ubaid / Uruk period, c. 5th.-4th. millenium BC.

A very early seal with low handle and drill in an all black stone with a nice and symethric engraving of an angle-filled cross.

Size: c. 19-20 mm. long

Condition: Nice Very Fine, much smooth wear, but completely intact and attractive.

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

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...

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...

A nice smaller stamp seal in a fine stone, engraved with a cross-linear grid-like pattern. The fine engraving of the base is a tell-tale for the late manifacture, Levantine, c. 2nd. millenium BC.

Size: 14 mm. The base in fine intact condition the high handle worned through from use.

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

Interesting and unclassified blackstone button stamp seal, carved with cross and pellets, c. 4th. millenium BC.

Probably Mesopotamian or from ancient near east, carved in quite high relief in a nice jet-black stone.

Size: 19-20 mm.

Condition: Near fine, the seal has a fine and intact imprint, with an ancient loss / damage to the upperside of the seal over the loop, which is also intact.