A rare and quite attractive set of two knives and a sicle type of cutter (3), knapped in finely patinated Silex, Egyptian stoneage / Neolithic period, 5200 - 4000 BC.

These comes from an old French collection and the two knives with tags in white and black ink giving the finding place to 'Fayoum' and 'Le Fayoum' - a region just south of Cairo, close to the Nile.

Rarely seen and a must for collectors of Egypt antiquities.

Size: Each between 9-10 cm. in length...

Ancient Egyptian artifacts from the Predynastic Period, specifically the Naqada II (Gerzean) era, which dates back to around 3600 - 3150 B.C. The artifact is a hand-carved war mace head made of reddish-brown stone, possibly Breccia. The mace head has a globular shape with a large cylindrical perforation in the center, which tapers towards one end. The base of the hole is carved with a pronounced reinforced rim, which was used to attach the head securely to a wooden handle...

Superb quality prehistoric, European stone hand axe-celt, Stone Age, Neolithic Period, dating from 3600 BC to 2200 BC.

This hand ax is extremely well-knapped and polished from creamy-beige flintstone. Its thick-butted form has a convex, almost semi-circular, nicely polished blade with a finely profiled cutting edge. During the Neolithic era in northwestern Europe, people relied heavily on a variety of tools to aid them in their daily lives...

Ancient European, Celtic Hallstatt culture, from the late Bronze Age, dating back to approximately 1200-800 B.C. It is a well-preserved example of a bronze socketed spearhead. The spearhead is superbly cast and hand-finished, featuring a faceted petaloid blade head with a thick midrib that tapers to a point. The blade has a hollow tapered socket that bisects it to the tip, and there are two pierced holes below the blade on each side, designed for attachment to a spear shaft...

A deeply engraved cylinder seal in beige stone, depicting the 4-winged Pazuzu as the Master of Animals, between winged erect bulls. Neo-Assyrian period, c. 9th.-7th. cent. BC.

Height: 2 cm, ø 1cm.

Condition: Nice Very fine, very sharp with small chip below.

Ex. Private Collection of Karl Müller, 1950-1977. Comes with hard imprint and COA.

An attractive Assyrian black serpentine cylinder seal of a large size, carved with a Deity in front of a prancing horse or Unicorn, many symbols in the fields, Mesopotamia, Neo-Assyrian period, 9th.-7th. cent. BC.

Height: 31 mm, and diameter is c. 10 mm.

Condition: Nice Very fine and completely intact. Deposits and old clay in the devices so the imprint could surely be even better.

Ex. Private Collection of Karl Müller, 1950-1977...

A fine depiction of a Mesopotamian Cylinder seal in black stone, Neo-Assyrian Epire, c. 9th.-7th. cent. BC.

The seal is carved with the enthroned Great King or Ashur himself seated, drinking from a cup in front of a table with a large wine amphora or vase. Behind the table there's a standing attendant with a Fan.Crescent and star symbols in the fields.

Size: 26 x 12 mm...

Ancient European early Bronze Age (2700-2000 BC) copper alloy celt - axe with a flared, slightly convex cutting edge. The rectangular, solid butt is characteristically snapped after the casting process, and it has grooves for attaching a wooden shaft.

DIMENSIONS:

Overall length: 8.7 cm (3.43 inches).

Height of the cutting edge: 3.8 cm (1.5 inches).

Weight: 247 grams

CONDITION: Despite its age, the item is in good condition, although it does show signs of use and wear...

A high quality intaglio, large for type and carved in an even coloured transperant carnelian stone, probably MUGHAL/SAFAVID, 16th.-17th. century AD.

Rather complicated oval cartouche, carved with artful caligraphic arabic within a double border.

Size: c. 21 mm. long and almost 6 mm. thick.

Condition: Extremely fine, completely intact with inky deposits.

Ex. L.P. Niederrhein, aquired before 1980.

Fine quality bowl with five half open lotus flowers impressed on the inside floor.
Bowl of rounded profile curving up sharply to a slightly incurved rim. Standing on a low rounded foot with beveled molding.
For similar stamps, cf. Beazley Archive database, vase no. 9006433.

Ceramic
Greek Campanian, 3rd century BC
D. 17 cm (6.7 in)
H. 6.6 cm (2.6 in)
Intact apart from minor abrasion. Black lustrous gloss, partially turned red on the outside...

Very large black-glazed cup with single handle. Covered with fine quality black gloss inside and out. The deep bowl with an almost flat, inward sloping rim. Standing on a low ring foot...

Large single-handled cup covered with fine quality black gloss inside and out. The deep bowl with an almost flat, inward sloping rim. Discoloration on the floor with the imprint from the foot of another cup. Standing on a low ring foot with reserved underside.
For a similar cup close in size, cf. item no. 6211a 1 in: Morel 330-300 BC
Ceramic
Greek Campanian, 350-300 BC
D. 14 cm (5.5 in)
W. over handle 17.7 cm (7 in)
H. 5.9 cm (2.3 in)
Intact and ...

Black-glazed kylix of Ionian shape with a steep bowl and offset rim. The slightly tilted handles attached on the shoulder. The widening foot with flat resting surface.
The outside of the rim and the handle zone are reserved, as well as the small band inside the lip.
The type originates from Eastern Greece and was widely exported and soon enough copied in Athens and Greek South Italy.
For a similar cup, cf. item no. 4, pp. 6-7 in: John W. Hayes. Greek and Italian Black-Gloss ...

Couple of Daunian drinking cups of shallow bowl and single loop handle. One decorated with faint bands of brownish slip inside and out.
Ceramic
Daunian, 4th Century BC
D. 9.5 cm (3.7 in) and 10.2 cm (4 in)
W. over handle 12.4 cm (4.9 in) for both
The undecorated cup intact and thin-walled with slight chipping inside and out. The decorated cup with minor surface wear and reattached handle.
Swiss private collection, plain cup acquired June 2008 (invoice co...

Ancient egyptian faience Shabti 6,5cm.

inscription: "Osiris; The singer of Amun, justified."

This ushabti figurine is depicted as a worker holding two hoes for work in the fields of Osiris in the afterlife.

He is wearing a tripartite wig which falls down between the shoulders.

Only the hands crossed over the chest and holding the already-mentioned agricultural implements.

Third Intermediate Period, 21th/22th Dynasty.

Materia...

Shabti for Neb-Neheh

White glazed Faience

The Shabti with the epithets for Osiris Neb-Neheh, in this instance the first appears to be the name of the deceased. He wears a distinct long lappet wig and more unusually at the back the basket lies diagonally below the yoke with two water pots.

Origin: Egypt

Period: New Kingdom, late 18th-early 19th Dynasty

Date: c. 1300 B.C.

Material: Fayence

Dimension: 12,7 cm.

A pair of attractive Celtic bronze attachment rings with engraved decor and remains of iron pins. Beautiful turquoise patina!

Length 5,5cm and 6,6cm.

Ex. Collection of Rudolf Rack, Bad Nauheim, Germany.

Carved in a grey stone and finely polished in the Neo-Assyrian period, c. 9th.-7th. cent. BC.

The seal is carved with a depiction of a deity tending a capricorn, below the symbols of the Sun and Moon, interesting eye symbol as well as a large star.

Height: 2cm, ø 1cm.

Condition: Near Extremely fine.

Ex. Private Collection of Karl Müller, 1950-1977. Comes with hard imprint and COA.

The scarce figural forpart of an early medieval bronze cross encolpion, Byzantine, c. 8th. cent. AD.

The cross decorated with Virgin Mary holding child Jesus, with portraits on each arm of the cross. Loop at the top, and thus wearable.

Size: 91 x 66 mm.

Condition: Nicely preserved obverse part of the Encolpion, smooth wear from use and nice dark green patina.

Ex German Private Collection.

A very attractive large brownstone stamp seal of the oval gable form, c. 4th. millenium BC.

The seal finely polished and engraved with a stag with long horns.

Size: c. 32 mm. long.

Condition: Nice Very fine, intact.

Ex. Private Collection of Karl Müller, 1950-1977.

Comes with hard imprint and COA.

A bronze sickle with three raised ribs to the outside of the curve and with the reverse flat, Germany, Early Bronzeage bronze sicle, c. 1800 BC. The interesting type with the large knob at the base.

Size: 136 mm.

Condition: Choice Very fine, intact with a nice glossy dark green patina and uncleaned deposits.

Ex. Jens Knudsen, Hamburg, 1970-1999.

A fine bronzeage weapon celt, North European bronzeage, later 2nd. mill. BC. Specimen probably from Northern Germany.

The celt with a loop in the side, fine sturdy design and probably made for warfare and not wood-carving.

Size: 83 mm. tall.

Ex. Jens Knudsen, Hamburg, 1970-1999.

A wonderfull white marble cylinder seal, Sumerian, Pre-Dynastic period, later 4th. millenium BC.

Very attractive seal of a massive size carved with architecture (temple facade) and bull, 6 small globules. See similar BM Inv. 102416, Collon, First Impressions Kat. 28., dated to the early Jemdet Nasr period.

Size: 2,8 cm. tall and a diameter of 2,2 cm.

Condition: Nice Very fine, intact.

Ex. Private Collection of Karl Müller, 1950-1977.

Large bulbous vessel topped by cylindrical spouts and a twofold handle between them. One spout with a red strainer on the top, the other with red wash inside and a strainer on the base.
Decorated with blue-black lines, wave scrolls, an undulating line with ivy leaves and a chain design. Ornaments below the handle, floral motifs near the base.
For another larger than usual example with comparable decoration, cf. Beazley Database, vase no. 9002188.
The so-called listata styl...

Apulian black-glazed guttus of globular body with gently sloped shoulder, upright narrow neck and flared spout. The flared rim decorated with impressed rings.
The loop handle is attached on the shoulder, which is embellished with horizontal grooves. Red wash around and underneath the foot.
For a related vessel, cf. vase no. 5452a 1, pl. 17a, p. 365 (vol. 1) in: Jean-Paul Morel. Céramique Campanienne: Les Formes. Rome 1981.
Ceramic
Greek Apulian, 350-300 BC
H. ...

Daunian krater with bulbous body, short funnel-shaped mouth and slightly upturned handles.
The shoulder area with bluish-black bands and raised triangles, metope-like spaces within thin vertical lines. Hanging semicircles inside the funnel opening.
For a related example, cf. Beazley Database vase no. 1005779.
Ceramic Daunian, Subgeometric II, 550-400 BC
H. 18.5 cm (7.3 in) W. over handles 30 cm (11.8 in)
Lower part assembled from fragments. Minor losses at th...

Daunian krater with globular body and short funneled mouth. The vertical loop handles on the shoulder area alternate with two red colored stumps.
Brown-red linear decoration around the body, wavy lines at the handle area, hanging semicircles inside the funnel opening.
One handled reattached with bone glue, a medium that was in use until the 1950s.
For a related example, cf. inv. no. 1912,1220.9 in the British Museum database.
Ceramic
Daunian, Subgeometric III...

Daunian krater with globular shaped body and funnel-shaped lip. The vertical loop handles on the shoulder area alternate with two red colored plates.
Brown-red and bluish geometric decoration around the body, wavy lines with ivy leaves at the handle area, hanging semicircles inside the funnel opening.
The geometric decoration is cold-applied and slightly rubbed in places.
For a related example, cf. Beazley Database, vase no. 1009620.
Ceramic
Daunian, Subgeomet...

Attractive and substantial cylinder showing horned animals protected by hero against attacking lion. Mesopotamia, Early dynastic, 3rd. millenium BC.

Height: 3 cm, diameter 1,7cm.

Condition: Very fine, intact with typical light wear for material.

Ex. Karl Müller, 1950-1977.

A beautiful stamp seal in the form of a reclining cow, carved in a glossy hard white stone with extreme polishing, Jemdet Nasr, 3300-2900 BC.

The stamp is carved on the sealing surface with two globules. Interesting very small seal, incredibly nicely carved in such a small size!

Length c. 10 mm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine for type and age.

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

An Anatolian Marble stone Idol of a lovely 'female' form, Kusura-Beycesultan Type, Early Bronze Age II, Circa 2700-2300 B.C.

The particular shape of this fertility idol is also called a 'Violin-shape', carved as it is in a nice white marble.

Size: c. 5 cm. tall.

Condition: Near Extremely fine and perfect, with much adhired sandy pockets, that can be cleaned if so desired.

Old german collection of R. K., Nordrhein-Westfalen, before 1980.

An interesting and well-engraved seal ring made of an alloy of bronze and silver end probably once gilt, Sasanian, c. 4th.-5th. century AD.

The ring engraved with a very nice enface portrait of a Sasanian king. Cleaned but retaining some patina. The ring has a closed hairline crack at the back, othervise intact.

Size: The ring is c. 25 mm. wide.

Ex. Collection of Jens Knudsen, Hamburg, 1980-1999.

A lovely large amulet carved as a mythical beast in white calcite, drilled for inlay to the eyes and with a drill through the body for mounting it on a string. Mesopotamia, Uruk-Jemdet Nasr, 3300-2900 BC.

Finely shaped archaic beast. With old collection mark at the back.

Size: 43 mm. long.

Condition: Nice Very fine, intact with slightly rough surfaces.

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

A very beautiful tall figural alabastron in form of Kore, Eastern Greek, Middle of the 6th century BC.

The portrait is in the tradition of the Kore representations, here as a young elegant woman holding a bird in her left hand, red-brown terracotta.

Height: 18,2cm.

Condition: Good Very fine, completely intact with very minor wear and deposits.

Ex. Old Austrian Private Collection, 1960-1990.

A fine and large Egyptian bronze figure of Osiris in mummyform, Late Period, 26th Dynasty (Saite Period), about 627 - 525 B.C.

The large figure depicts the mummiform Osiris wearing the Atef-crown holding crook and flail. Interestingly, there's remains of ancient gilt on the body in many places.

Size: c. 17 cm.

Condition: Choice and intact. At the back of his feet, a small padding mark over a depression in the metal and inscribed with a collection number, probabl...

A terrific oversized bronze figural Bell, Luristan, c. 1200-800 BC.

The bronze Goat with exceptionally long curving horns and forelegs and with it's body evolving into a large openwork bell. Probably once with a small loop at the end, now lost.

Size: 13,6 cm. long and 9 cm. tall. A high unusual size for these which are normally quite small.

Condition: Near Extremely fine, but for the lost loop finial. Lovely dark green patina with earthern encrustations.