A wonderful old Mesopotamian / Sumerian Cylinder seal, 4th.-early 3rd. mill. BC.

A vividly carved seal in high relief (shaped like an hour glass), engraved with stylized animals, pre-dynastic very early seal.

Size: 19-20 cm. tall and 14 mm. wide.

Ex. German Private Collection

Rare Seljuk bronze key with an eagle standing on the back of a rooster while pecking at the head of its prey. The rooster has a small crest and protruding eyes.
Birds play an important role in the Seljuk decorative repertoire, and in this case they probably evoke a demonstration of power.
Cast into a two-piece mold and showing a casting seam.
Bronze
Islamic, Seljuq Period, 11th-12th century AD
L. 9.1 cm (3.7 in)
Rare piece. Surface slightly corroded...

Highly interesting collectors lot of three different types of stamp seals, Anatolia, 3rd.-1st. millenium BC.

The lot includes a scarce 2nd. millenium Hittite type of 4-side stamp with 4 different impressions of humans and plants, a triangular seal with a knob handle and engraved with a floral pattern and lastly, a cone-shaped seal with round base engraved with scriptssigns(?). All carved in black serpentine.

Interesting lot for study...

Ancient Near East, Luristan, ca. 1200 to 800 BC. A large elaborate bronze cloak pin, cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process with large Zoomorphic beast terminal.

Used to fasten clothes, in this case due to the unusually heavy fabric and decoration, likely leather for presentation use - perhaps for a very thick cape or leather armor.

Size: 22 cm. with the terminal being 3,3 cm...

Ancient Near East, Luristan, ca. 1200 to 800 BC. An elaborate bronze cloak pin, cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process with a Zoomorphic beast terminal.

Used to fasten clothes, in this case due to the unusually heavy fabric and decoration, likely leather for presentation use - perhaps for a very thick cape or leather armor.

Size: 11,2 cm.

Condition: Superb! Wonderful dark-green patina.

Ex German Collection from Hessen, aquired before 1970.

A large and very nicely carved stamp seal in black stone, Anatolia/Levante, 2nd. millenium BC.

Lovely engravings of a horned bull attacked by a Lion on one side and on the other side, an impressive winged Goat, with small bearded human head above.

Interesting and very rare!

Size: 3,4 cm. in diameter and ca. 1 cm. thick.

Condition: Very fine and basically intact with central piercing at a later time and some flaking...

Interesting seal carved in a hard black stone, likely Serpentine with a handle, 4th.-2nd. millenium BC.

The seal in engraved with what looks like ancient scriptsigns, but it needs further research.

Size: 25 mm.

Condition: Very fine and intact with nice ancient wear overall.

Ex German Collection from Hessen, aquired before 1970.

An interesting set of Western-Central Asian / Bactrian bronzes from 2nd. millenium BC.

A drinking bowl with low rim and cup with a somewhat higher vessel. The cup is quite massive and heavy.

Large vessel with high walls - for food or water storage. A small omphalos in the interior.

Sizes: 9 x 3 & 8 x 4,5 cm / 3,5 x 1,2 & 3 x 1,8 inches.

Condition: Choice, uncleaned bowls. The cup with a hairline crack. Very nice patinas...

A choice Islamic Sgraffito pottery dish, Bamiyan, c. 12th cent AD.

Nice earthenware dish with incised, floral decorations in the interior. Beige/white underglaze with green and brown decorative colors.

Size: 15,5 x 4 cm.

Condition: Choice & intact. Fine condition for the type with original glaze. A few chips in the interior and on the rim.

Provenance: Prominent Danish-French Private Estate collection, (aquired 1970- c...

A choice Islamic Sgraffito pottery dish, Bamiyan, c. 12th cent AD.

Nice earthenware dish with incised, decorations in the interior. Beige/white underglaze with green and brown decorative colors in splash designs.

Size: 15,7 x 3,8 cm.

Condition: Choice & intact...

A lovely Phoenician / Early Greek period terracotta figure of Astarta, ca. 5th. century BC.

She is so fine standing nude with hands out from the hips wearing a headdress, long pony tail at the back. Wonderful details!

Size: 10,2 cm.

Condition: Choice! Originally cast with seperate arms so these deattached when cleaned and was reattached.

Ex. Old Danish Collection

19th century Persian silver melon shape salt shaker with repousse branch on top surrounded by a band of small flowers, and with pendant drapery in every sector of the bottom part. Last quarter of 19th century, Qajar dynisty era, very well made, two parts fit snugly, in excellent vintage condition, nicely tarnished (can be cleaned with silver tarnish remover in a minute if needed). Hallmarked with 2 characters on the bottom. Diameter 2 inches, height 2 inches, weight 1.45 ounces (41 grams).

Mesopotamian incantation bowl with the meaningless repetition of the same letter. The text is grouped in adjacent areas and surrounds two demonic figures with differentiated sexual attributes.
The woman appears with long hair or a veil, the man is depicted with a short brush cut.
Arms and legs are hatched, the fingers indicated. The arms are bound together.
Between the figures a scorpion with segmented body and multiple legs. The grasping pincers are rendered as simple lines...

Mesopotamian incantation bowl with a nonsensical text consisting of repetitive scribbles.
Bowls with nonsensical non-writing or pseudo-script were not uncommon. The four lines of writing enclose two demonic figures. Possibly male and female.
The heads are rendered in profile with large eyes, the line applied between nose and chin may be a tongue sticking out.
Both demons appear with crossed arms and legs, suggesting that they are bound. The feet with indicated toes.
S...

An attractive bronze figure of a Rooster on top of a seal ring, 10th.-12th. century AD.

Very attractive with fine redish and green patina.

Size: 7,1 cm. tall.

Ex. Collection of a Goldsmith in the Rhineland, ca. 1960s.

A choice and large tanged bronze lance, Ancient Near East, mid 2nd. millenium BC. Turkmenistan / Uzbekistan bronze age.

A very impressive and decorative bronze lance with a long, bent tang, massive socket and a broad, leaf-shaped blade with highly profiled midrib.

A beautiful lance that would have been highly efficient on combat.

Size: c. 42 cm. long. - 16 inches.

Condition: Choice. Beautiful green bronze patina. Some roughness to the edge.

...

A choice and large tanged bronze lance, later 2nd. mill. BC. 'Luristan' Turkmenistan / Uzbekistan bronze age.

An advanced and impressive bronze lance with a long, bent tang, massive socket and a broad, leaf-shaped blade with highly profiled midrib.

A beautiful lance that would have been highly efficient on combat.

Size: c. 32 cm. long. - c. 13 inches.

Condition: Choice. Beautiful green bronze patina. Some roughness to the edge.

Ex. Danish Pr...

A delicate female sculpture of terracotta, capturing a goddess of fertility, Indus, Harappa Fase, 2500-1900 BC.

Abstract form with delineated legs, curved arms, voluptuous breasts situated beneath an incised pectoral collar, and broad shoulders. Highly stylized face with impressed circular eyes, prominent nose, slender lips, and tall forehead topped with a neatly arranged coiffure.

Condition: Choice for the fragile and always repaired type, this figure is nicely repaired se...