This is a very interesting bronze, socketed spear from ancient Greece or Persia. It has a slightly swollen midrib accented with incised lines. The socket is split at the original seam and there are some losses. The blade has what appears to be ancient battle damage, making this quite a unique piece for any collection. The overall length is roughly 18 cm and the weight is 130 grams.

This is a very early specimen of a bronze dagger or spear from the ancient middle East. It is solid and stable with only minor losses. It has a plain blade and tang typical of the earliest pieces from the region. It weighs 162 grams and measures roughly 20 cm in length. This is a great piece to start off your collection or to pick up a very early type at a reasonable price.

This is a wonderful but plain little copper alloy or bronze axe head from the ancient middle East. Types like this are often associated with either the Amlash or Luristan cultures. This piece has three raised ridges on the socket. It is intact, solid and stable with no repair or restoration. It weighs 230 grams and measures 12.5 cm across. This is a fine example of ancient craftsmanship at a very low price. Don't miss it!!!!

Ancient Near Eastern "MESOPOTAMIAN" stone amulet of a fish with nice incised details, dating to around 2000 BC

Measurements: Length: 3.5 cm - Height: 1 cm

condition: Intact as found

For thousands of years, since before recorded history, man has worn amulets and talismans for luck and protection. The stones, feathers, teeth and claws that adorned early cultures eventually gave way to an array of amulets whose powers were as varied as their forms...

This week I am posting several Bronze Age weapons from the Middle East including a set of 5, very unique, crescent-hilt daggers from the Marlik culture (circa 1000 BC). These all came from the same private collection. For a nearly identical example see "Arms and Armor from Iran" by Manoucher Khorasani p 50 figure 1 and page 53. This specimen appears to have been cleaned partially so I have included a 35X micrograph of an area of the surface showing crystallization common on ancient bronze...

This type of bronze weapon is generally designated as a short sword. It has a substantial midrib with tapering edges. The edges are concave in the upper part and gracefully draw into spikes or wings that extend around either side of the tang. Weapons of this type are found in Northwestern Iran and most likely date to around the 9th century BC. “Weapons of this type [are] widely represented in the Ghaletenti I cemetery in Dailiman.” (“Arms and Armor from Iran” by Manouchehr M...

This type of bronze weapon is generally designated as a short sword. It has a substantial midrib with tapering edges. The edges are concave in the upper part and gracefully draw into spikes or wings that extend around either side of the tang. Weapons of this type are found in Northwestern Iran and most likely date to around the 9th century BC. “Weapons of this type [are] widely represented in the Ghaletenti I cemetery in Dailiman.” (“Arms and Armor from Iran” by Manouchehr M...

This is an ancient bronze short sword from Northwestern Iran. It has a choice, predominantly blue patina mottled with green and red. The lower half of the hilt is basically ovoid in hape with a lappet-flanged area on both broad surfaces. Flanged areas often held inlays of wood or bone but a lappet flange of this type was probably a decoration in and of itself. The upper half of the hilt is also ovoid but with the broad surfaces oriented perpendicular to the lower half...

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.

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.

Interesting Cuneiform tablet, slightly rectangular and inscribed on all sides with Cunei text, Mesopotamian, probably Arkadian Cunei, late 3rd. millenium BC.

Untranslated by us.

Size: 33 x 31 mm.

Condition: Good Very fine or better, finely baked clay with almost glossy surfaces, no losses.

Ex. Old Private Collection

An attractive hard burnt terracotta plaque of female deity, probably Ishtar, with tall headdress and fine gown, babylonian, 2nd. mill. BC.

The godess is decorated with wedge-like decoration on her breasts and lower part of gown. On the back inscribed with 4 columns of Cuneiform, untranslated by us.

Size: c. 13 cm.

Condition: Very fine, intact with repaired hairline cracks runing though the middle and at the feets...

Reddish limestone. Animal battle scene with crossing bulls and crescent moon standard, worshippers in between. A larger seal in an attractive red-orange stone. Isin-Larsa period, Old Babylonian, ca. 2002-1594 BC.

Height 26 mm and diameter is 13 cm., so fairly thick.

Condition: Very fine, smooth wear but intact with a nice patina.

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

An interesting amulethic stamp seal, dating back to the Neolithic period of Mesopotamia/Anatolia, c. 7th.-6th. millenium BC.

Shaped as a triangular amulet with a grit-pattern carved in the base.

Size: 26 x 23 mm...

An interesting and rare motif of a coiled on a Ubaid period stamp seal of the round gable type, Mesopotamia c. 5th.-4th. millenium BC.

Size: c. 20 mm...

An interesting and scarce stamp seal, carved and finely polished in white stone, perhaps marple, and engraved in the base with globules, Uruk period, 4th.-3rd. millenium BC.

Size: c. 16 mm...

Interesting seal or gaming token perhaps with an elaborate carving of a Sun symbol, probably 1st. millenium BC.

Rare piece carved in either a very durable bone or steatite (?), beautiful patina.

Size: 18 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Extremely fine.

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...

Interesting early scaraboid stamp seal, shaped as a stylized Egyptian Scarab, North-Eastern Anatolia / Western Mesopotamia, c. 3rd. mill. BC.

Size: 18 x 16 mm.

Condition: Nice very fine, lovely deep relief.

Comes with the original collection Id-card and imprint.

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

A rare type dated in newer research to the Neolithic period of Eastern Anatolia / Northern Mesopotamia, 7th.-6th. mill. BC.

Drop or leaf shaped amuletic seal with tiny gritt patterns and loop at the top.

Size: 24 mm. long and 11 mm. wide.

Comes with the original collection Id-card and imprint.

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

Interesting cylinder seal, probably in faience, engraved with symethric patterns, Mesopotamia, Jemdet Nasr, 3300-2900 BC.

Size: 30 mm. tall and 10 mm. wide.

Condition: Very fine.

Comes with the original collection Id-card and imprint.

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 stam...

A finely preserved small inscribed foundation cylinder, Neo-Babylonian Empire, c. 8th-6th. century BC.

The barrel shaped piece fully inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform. Untranslated but such cylinders usually has been attributed to Nebucadnezzar II, 604-562 B.C. They were stuck into buidings walls and is often long texts with praises to the builder and the gods, usually a king, just like foundation bricks.

Size: 60 mm. long and c. 25-26 mm. thick.

Condition: Good ...

Darkage-Viking silver pendant in a Lunar or crecent shape with a loop, c. 600-900 AD.

Attractive and wearable today with decorations on the surface.

Size: 26 mm. tall.

Condition: Intact.

Ex. German Private Collection.

Interesting pottery jar with handle and fine decoration in red on beige ground, Ancient Near East c. 2nd. millenium BC.

Size: 15,8 cm. wide and 11,3 cm. tall.

Condition: Very fine, with short crack and small chip nicely restored and not visible.

Ex. Old Danish Collection.

Interesting cylinder seal carved in greyish black stone, with worshippers standing either side of the Tree of Life, with the winged emblem of Ashur / Assur above. Nice Neo-Assyrian style and fine details.

Size: 20 mm. tall and 10 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very fine, light wear and completely intact.

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

A very attractive saraboid seal, carved on the upper side with three section of grit-patterns, and on the seal base with a frontal stylized Rams head emblem, Anatolia, probably costal region, 2nd. millenium BC.

As a very precious material in antiquity, Lapis seals were expensive and thus scarcely seen today. This particular stone is in a very deep good color.

Size: c. 15 mm. long.

Condition: Extremely fine, light deposits.

Ex. German private collectio...

A very beautifully carved and polished stamp seal, Syro-Levantine, c. 1st. millenium BC.

A very elaborately carved seal with a tall handle, carved in a cream stone, very glossy! The seal is carved with a depiction of a large bird attacking a smaller animal, perhaps a sheep. Highly unusual.

Size: 20 mm. tall.

Condition: Extremely Fine, uncleaned red dessert sand deposits in the devices.

Ex. Old Bavarian private collection, aquired at Gerard Hirsch Nach...

A high quality and massive Mesopotamian cylinder seal carved in dark serpentine stone, North-West Mesopotamia, c. 18th.-16th. century BC.

The seal is profusely engraved with a complex depiction of deities and animals. A central godess is sort of flying with her hands touching two creatures above. A worshipper in front with hands raised. Aray of animals and smaller figures including a Centaur below.

Size: 44-45 mm. tall. and 15 mm. wide.

Condition: Near Extremely...

Larger seal carved in almost black-green serpentine, the seal carved with an introduction to the enthroned almighty deity, by a worshipper dragged before the throne by a female deity. Dating The Third Dynasty of Ur, also called the Neo-Sumerian Empire, 22nd.-21st. century BC.

A nice seal with deep relief in the fine old style, cuneiform inscription behind the visiting worshipper.

Size: 24-25 mm. tall.

Condition: Very fine, intact with some wear to surface, but a...

Black Hematite seal with nice carvings, dated late in the Babylonian period, c. 18th-16th. cent. BC

Scene with intercessory goddess before God in ascending posture, male, crescent moon, fox, monkey, lion standard.

Size: 30 mm. tall and 13-14 mm. wide.

Condition: Nice Very fine, attractive seal and fully intact.

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

A finely carved late- to Neo-Assyrian black stone cylinder seal, depicting a winged matured bearded deity with helmet hunting a running animal in high relief, above is star and crescent, mid-to late Assyrian.

Size: 21-22 mm. tall and 10 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very fine and glossy, very sharp imprint.

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

A very nice and quite interesting cylinder seal in a hard black stone with white inclusions on one side, Late-Assyrian to Neo-Assyrian period, c. 12th. cent.-9th. cent. AD.

A wonderful depiction of a 'Scorpioman' and a 'fishman', both depicted as winged matured men with long beards and pointy hats or helmets. Their lower bodies evolve into a fishtail and a scorpions tail. All within a heering pattern border.

Size: 29-30 mm.

Condition: Nice Very fine. Finely pr...

A very finely carved late- to Neo-Assyrian red stone cylinder seal, depicting a human headed, winged demon with Scorpios tail and a large Bull. In between them a tree and above star and crescent.

Interesting and beautiful composition, probably depicting Pazuzu. Beautiful jasper -like stone, quite hard.

Size: 25 mm. tall and 12 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very fine, intact and sharp with minimal chip to the very rim, not affecting the depiction.

Provena...

A beautiful high quality early Mesopotamian cylinder seal, Isin Larsa period, (c. 2025 BC – c. 1763 BC).

The haematite cylinder seal showing the introduction to God with a worshipper, a deity and the prince in Syrian clothing, in between a bull standing on it's hind legs. To be researched! Size: 20-21 mm. tall and 11 mm. wide.

Condition: About Extremely fine. Not much wear and quite sharp for type.

Provenance: The Karl Müller collection, Germany 1950-1977. ...

A larger black serpentine cylinder seal, showing a the Great King battling a winged griffin with bird-like features, star and other symbols in the fields. Achaemenid, c. 550-332 BC.

Nice core Persian style for the medium.

Height: 34-35 mm and with a diameter of 12 mm.

Condition: Very fine for the type and basically intact with minor chips and smooth wear.

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

A wonderful style large black serpentine cylinder seal, showing a mounted King hunting a Bull in full freight, a bird in the top and symbols of the Sun and Moon, Middle-assyrian, 14th - 11th century BC.

The scene is quite rare with the detailed bearded mounted king.

Height: 35 mm. tall. and with a diameter of 11 mm.

Condition: Very fine, extremely fine details, but with a repaired hairline crack through the middle (professionally done).

Provenance: Th...

A late period Neo-Assyrian cylinder seal in a fine blue Lapis Lazuli, dating to the 8th.-7th. century BC.

Nice core style Assyrian seal depicting the great king hunting a winged beast. His right leg raised of a Peacock bird, with the winged emblem of Ashur above and the crescent and Sun in the fields. Very thick and impressive for a seal in Lapis!

Size: 27 mm. tall and 14-15 mm. thick, which gives an interesting long imprint.

Condition: Good Very fine, typical lo...