Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World (1225)

Ancient Egyptian carved amulet in red stone with finely polished details, Late Period, 26th-30th Dynasty, 664-332 BC

Size: c. 16 mm. wide and 11 mm. tall.

Condition: Good VF, intact with patination.

Provenance: Formerly in the private collection of Eberhard Hanfstaengl (1886-1973). He was a famous German Art director and head of the Berlin National Gallery as well as other higher positions. Educated as Art Historian. Comes with COA.

A rectangular stone stamp seal carved in a green stone. The seal is high unusual, since it depicts a whole bunch of people having great fun. They are skillfully done with lines and round heads; it looks like there a couple having sex and other humans applauding it, but it might just be my imagination(?).

Wonderful style!

Size: 25 mm. long and 23 mm wide...

A superb condition beige hardstone stamp seal, Cilicia / Levante, c. 1200-800 BC.

The seal expertly carved and polished into it's present perfect pyramidal shape and carved in the base with a bird. Beautiful stone used.

Size: 16 mm tall and 13 mm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 2007...

An interesting choice of a mottled glossy green stone with inclusions ffor a stamp seal, West-Mesopotamia, c. 2nd. mill. BC.

Lovely colour with a round base engraved with an image of a horse. Size: 16 mm. tall and 15 mm...

A really nice stone seal pendant with a dramatic engraving, Neo-Babylonian-Achaemenid period, c. 8th.-5th. century BC.

Interesting provincial rendering of the famous depictions of the 1st. millenium in the near east, of the great king spearing a Lion. In this case the lion is rather small compared to the king, who is standing in a long dress, trusting the spear with both hands...

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...

An high quality thick / massive cylinder seal in fine white marple, carved with the 'eye' or circle/rhomboid pattern - a characteristic and significant design for the Period. The seal is slightly conical as tipical for the latest seals of Jemdet Nasr.

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...

Reportedly found in Western Mesopotamia, the motif of this fine large stamp seal, is known also in Eastern Anatolia and dates to the late 5th.-4th. millenium BC (Ubaid period).

The seal is expertly engraved with the image of a scary spiked demonic creature on 4 legs. In the field before him, there's a bird.

Size: 36 mm. wide and 28 mm. tall, height is 7-8 mm.

Highly interesting and impressive seal which is probably depicting a mythical demon...

Interesting lot of three amulets, two in stone and one in bronze dating from ca. 2000 BC-1000 AD.

The lot consists of a larger Islamic bronze pendant or amulet, 55 mm. long and another serpentine stone amulet with engraved decoration or writing (Hittite?), ca. 1st. millenium BC and a third amulet in stone, grooved and likely a fertility amulet Anatolia or Mesopotamia, 2nd.-1st. mill BC.

Nice lot that calls for more research!

Ex. German Private Collection

A choice larger stone stamp seal of the Tabloid type, North-West Mesopotamia, 4th. mill. BC.

The seal engraved with three strange symbols in deep relief.

Size: 28 mm. long and 22 mm. wide.

Condition: Very fine, intact with fine even wear and patina.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 1995...

A very large and scarce round gable stamp seal in black serpentine stone, Anatolia, c. 4th. millenium BC.

The fine seal with central drilling and carved with an animal on the base.

Size: 35 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Nice VF, some wear, especially to the drilled hole from ancient use.

This seal comes with the original ID-card from below collection.

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

A very attractive Sassanian stamp seal carved with an animal with it's turned back, a trident symbol and a fine long line of Pahlevi script above.

Finely inscribed seal in a mottled hard stone.

Size: c. 15 mm. wide and 13 mm. tall.

Condition: Good Very fine.

Ex. German private collection, Ex. Gerard Hirsch Nachfolger Auctionhouse. Comes with our COA and hard imprint.

Larger seal carved in black stone, Western Mesopotamia, 2nd. millenium BC.

A very special and rare stamp seal, carved in the shape of a high tower with 4 turrets. The base engraved with a seated humanoid figure beside a tree. Drilled at the top.

Size: 28 mm. tall and 16,5 mm. wide at the max.

Condition: Very fine, loss to one turret but othervise good very fine and with a nice ancient patina.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 2004. Comes with ...

An interesting and rare stamp seal of a triangular form with a carved base and loop, Mesopotamia, c. 2nd. millenium BC.

The seal is particularly finely engraved with a horned animal and some interesting 'glyphs' in a freese above. With Egyptian inspiration and probably from the Middle Assyrian period, made close to the Egypt border.

Size: 14 x 11 mm.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Comes with Old collection card and imprint.

Provenance: Gustav...

An accomplished and very interesting larger stone cylinder seal, from the Uruk period of Mesopotamia, c. 3500-3000 BC.

The fine drill-style carved shows thick vertical bars, and some strange creatures behind and around these bars. Attractive high relief seal carved in a black stone, with loop at the top instead of the usual vertical drilling.

Size: c. 27 mm. tall, and 13 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very fine, finely preserved with nice patina and deposits.

A wonderful small collection of 10 handpicked superb larger quartz beads, Greco-Bactrian Empire, ca. 2nd. cent. BC-1st. AD.

Interesting and rare selection of 10 beads from Bactria, Balkh Area, made during the Greco-Bactrian Empire and with remnants of later dying in Cobalt and torquise during the Islamic Dynasties, 9th.-10th. century AD.

These types of beads are expertly carved in the very hard Quartz material, with rating of 7+ on the hardness scale for semi-precious sto...

Interesting gable seal, probably North-Mesopotamian, 4th. millenium BC.

The seal engraved with a finely carved filled cross, elongated in form. Probably in a black chlorite stone.

Size: 22 x 17 cm.

Condition: Nice VF, some wear to the drill from use.

**Comes with hard impression and the original collection ID card from 1992!

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

A lovely intact stone wig of exceptional quality for type, BACTRIA-MARGIANA, late 3RD- early 2ND mill B.C.

Separately-made hair and hat? of brownish chlorite or steatite for the famous composite figures which are often missing the wig / hair actually!

A particularly well-carved hair with a dome or crown and spiral-twisting indicated by grooves. Fine brownish stone.

Size: 32 x 25 x 12 mm.

Ex. Old Danish Private Collection

A very interesting and rare motif on a massive cylinder seal in white stone (marble?), Mesoopotamia, c. 3000-2700 BC.

The seal artfully engraved with an animal fight between an elephant, Lion and gazelle. Very thick seal that gives an impressive imprint.

Size: 28 mm. tall and c. 17 mm. wide.

Condition: Near Very fine, intact, but with some corr. to c. 1/3 of the engraving. Comes with a hard clay impression that could be improved some and the original ID card fr...

A fine larger black stone stamp seal of the gable form, popular in Northern Mesopotamia and Anatolia in the Ubaid period.

The seal shows a horned animal in a strongly archaic style.

Size: 29 mm. wide and 28 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice Very fine, intact with even wear from use.

This seal was aquired 1996 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

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

A late Ubaid period stamp seal, probably made during the 4th. millenium BC. The seal in serpentine and of the double side tablet type, engraved with an interesting symethric motif of lines and a scetched animal on the other side.

Size: 18 x 18 mm.

Condition: Good very fine, intact.

Comes with the original collection Id-card and imprint.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - ...

An attractive Uruk Zoomorphic stamp seal pendant, c. late 4th.-early 3rd. millenium BC.

The seal carved in a wonderful transperant stone and depicts an animal rearing it's head. The base carved with a Grit pattern and central piercing.

Size: 20 mm. tall and 19 mm. wide. A substantial amulet-seal for the period.

Condition: Good Very fine, tiny chip at one side of the head othervise completely intact with nice patina.

Added to the Oberländer collection ...

A lovely small stamp seal with high loop handle and carved in a black and white stone, Urartu Kingdom, c. 9th.-7th. cent. BC.

The seal base engraved with an animal. A rare stone seal from this culture and period.

Size: 15 mm. tall.

Condition: Good Very fine, choice and intact with uncleaned patina.

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

Provenance: Gustav Oberlä...

A substantial and attractive vessel in pinkish travertine with fine inclusions, Uruk/Jemdet Nasr - Early Dynastic, 3300-2700 BC.

The bulbous vessel with a finely polished exterior and with a broad flat rim.

The stone used is a rare pinkish travertine with fosil remains and lighter cream inclusions, large areas of dark deposts and patina.

Size: 11,5 x 9,5 cm. A substantial and heavy stone vessel for the period!

Condition: Good Very fine and intact with ...

Interesting cylinder seal in black stone with a warrior holding a spear in a running stance inside two rows of running animals, Old Assyrian, Early 2nd mill. BC.

Size: c. 17 mm.

Condition: Nice Very fine, intact with fine wear and deposits.

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

A beautiful stone stamp seal, carved in black serpentine with a high handle, East Anatolia/West Mesopotamia, Neo-Hittite States, late 2nd. mill. BC - early 1st. millenium BC.

Triangular seal plate, engraved with a 4-legged and winged animal, finely made knob handle with piercing!

Diameter: 22 x 23 mm.

Condition: Nice very fine, some smooth wear but intact with fine patina.

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

A fine hardstone cyliner seal, Middle Assyrian Empire, 1363-912 BC.

The seal is carved in a matte-black stone and depicts a hunting scene with the great bending to shoot an arrow against a 4-legged animal, crescent above.

Size: 26-27 mm. tall and 11 mm. thick.

Condition: VF, intact with some wear and fine patination and micro deposits.

Ex. German Private Collection

A very nice assortment of Ancient Near Eastern cylinder seals, Mesopotamia, ca. 2200-1800 BC.

The selection consists of three Old Babylonian and Isin Larsa types with a worshipper before the throne of Ea, along with provincial types. They are carved in different types of hardstones

The largest seal measure 28 mm. and the smallest ca. 15 mm.

Condition: Largest intact group with some wear, the larger seal with chips.

Ex. Old German and US Collections, ...

An attractive large Phoenician stamp seal of a scaraboid form, dating to c. 800 BC.

The seal carved in a in a nice marble stone and engraved with an interesting image of a god carying a crocodile and a bird or snake in each hand.

Size: 20 mm. long and 16 mm. broad and 11 mm. tall.

Condition: Good Very fine, intact with light wear.

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

Provenan...

A fine large stamp seal of rare low cone-shaped form, Northern Mespopotamian, c. 4th. mill. BC.

The seal shows an animal in a artful stylized style.

Size: 29 mm. in diameter and 15 mm. tall.

Condition: Good Very fine, almost intact, fine and glossy stone.

This seal was aquired as early as 1988 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

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

A finely large engraved gable type seal in black serpentine, Anatolia, 4th. millenium BC.

Attractive seal, carved with Goats horns a bove symbols, could be pre-Hittite or Hattite period.

Size: 32 mm.

Condition: Good Very Fine.

**Comes with hard impression and the original Id card!

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

A fine and rare late Pre-Dynastic / Late Jemdet Nasr period, Mesopotamian Cylinder seal of translucent Alabaster, early 3rd. millenium BC.

The seal carved highly concave with a fine rendering of centipedes.

Size: 16-17 mm. tall and c. 14 mm. thick.

Condition: Extremely fine, intact

OBS! Comes with the original ID card from below collection.

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

A lovely larger stamp seal in form of a stepped Pyramid, Neo-Hittite Kingdoms of the East Anatolia and West Mesopotamia, 1st. mill. BC.

finely carved and pierced at the top in a light brown stone. The top also engraved. The base engraved with a mythical winged animal.

Size: 21 mm x 21 mm. and 14 mm. tall.

Condition: Near Extremely fine, intact with nice patina.

This seal was aquired 2002 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below c...

A rare and elaborate stamp seal of high quality for the period, Messopotamian, Ubaid culture, 4th. millenium BC.

Of a rare variant of the gable shape, with two holes in the upper back for mounting it. Made in hard black serpentine stone.

On the seal plate an exiting engraving, very artful, with two confronting monkeys and a symbol between them.

Size: 21 mm x 21 mm-12 mm.

Ex. German Collection (Berlin), collected from the 1980s and onwards.

C...

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.

Interesting tall stamp seal with a bell-shaped body and large loop, probably ancient Armenian area, Lake Van, 2nd. mill. BC.

The seal engraved with a grit or net pattern in the base and is quite attractive in hand.

Size: 31 mm. tall and 14 mm. wide.

Condition: Good very fine, lovely patina.

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