Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes man from animal. What was once created using stone, wood, and bone has, over the centuries, evolved into metalworking and modern-day plastics. But it is the earliest tools, those carved from stone, which allowed mankind to conquer the natural environment and to prosper. Holding this flint arrowhead in our hand, delicately carved to a fine point thousands of years ago, we are holding the nascent breath of civilization. Tools allowed mankind to utilize his natural setting to its fullest potential, to altar the surroundings to suite his needs, and to create his own collective habitats that would eventually evolve into great cities. An arrowhead head like this one, when tied securely to a wooden shaft, could have been used to fell a fleeing prey or to spear a fish. As well, the delicate serrated edge could be used to cut and prepare the meat for cooking. This stone arrowhead represents the innate human drive to altar the environment, to innovate, and to conquer. It is in these earliest tools that we are able to witness the birth of civilization. From such tools, mankind learned to carve stones and rocks into new shapes and forms that suited the needs of the people evolving from arrowheads to temples. - (N.1154)   « Less

In the Israel of biblical times, this elegant vessel might have held rare oils or fragrant perfumes. Perhaps it was left as a votive at the shrine of some powerful deity. As  More »

In the Israel of biblical times, this elegant vessel might have held rare oils or fragrant perfumes. Perhaps it was left as a votive at the shrine of some powerful deity. As we hold it in our hands today, admiring its simple beauty, we are aware of the touch of other hands long ago. Who might have held it when it was new? Were the dreams and emotions that guided their lives so very different from our own? The vessel's graceful unadorned shape appeals as much to the contemporary eye as it did to the culture that created it. Such artifacts, ordinary enough in their own age, connect us in an intimate way with the world of the past. In its presence, we cross the bridge of time and set the imagination on a journey of discovery. - (PF.1731)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes man from animal. What was once created using stone, wood, and bone has, over the centuries, evolved into metalworking and modern-day plastics. But it is the earliest tools, those carved from stone, which allowed mankind to conquer the natural environment and to prosper. Holding this flint arrowhead in our hand, delicately carved to a fine point thousands of years ago, we are holding the nascent breath of civilization. Tools allowed mankind to utilize his natural setting to its fullest potential, to altar the surroundings to suite his needs, and to create his own collective habitats that would eventually evolve into great cities. An arrowhead head like this one, when tied securely to a wooden shaft, could have been used to fell a fleeing prey or to spear a fish. As well, the delicate serrated edge could be used to cut and prepare the meat for cooking. This stone arrowhead represents the innate human drive to altar the environment, to innovate, and to conquer. It is in these earliest tools that we are able to witness the birth of civilization. From such tools, mankind learned to carve stones and rocks into new shapes and forms that suited the needs of the people evolving from arrowheads to temples. - (N.1155)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes man from animal. What was once created using stone, wood, and bone has, over the centuries, evolved into metalworking and modern-day plastics. But it is the earliest tools, those carved from stone, which allowed mankind to conquer the natural environment and to prosper. Holding this flint arrowhead in our hand, delicately carved to a fine point thousands of years ago, we are holding the nascent breath of civilization. Tools allowed mankind to utilize his natural setting to its fullest potential, to altar the surroundings to suite his needs, and to create his own collective habitats that would eventually evolve into great cities. An arrowhead head like this one, when tied securely to a wooden shaft, could have been used to fell a fleeing prey or to spear a fish. As well, the delicate serrated edge could be used to cut and prepare the meat for cooking. This stone arrowhead represents the innate human drive to altar the environment, to innovate, and to conquer. It is in these earliest tools that we are able to witness the birth of civilization. From such tools, mankind learned to carve stones and rocks into new shapes and forms that suited the needs of the people evolving from arrowheads to temples. - (N.1156)   « Less

Context scene: Bull man, hornedanimal,twocrossedlions,twocrossedhornedanimals, bull-man.Terminal:discabovedoubleruling.Finecondition.Interpretationanddatingby  More »

Context scene: Bull man, hornedanimal,twocrossedlions,twocrossedhornedanimals, bull-man.Terminal:discabovedoubleruling.Finecondition.Interpretationanddatingby Prof.Lambert.-(LO.1088)Sumerian Cylinder Seal-LO.1088Circa:2500BCDimensions:1.25" (3.2cm) high Collection: Near Eastern Art Style: Early Dynastic IMedium:Dark veined stone   « Less

Throughout antiquity, the island of Cyprus was an important trading center at the crossroads of Mediterranean shipping routes. Cypriot goods have been discovered as far west  More »

Throughout antiquity, the island of Cyprus was an important trading center at the crossroads of Mediterranean shipping routes. Cypriot goods have been discovered as far west as Spain and as far east as India. The artisans of Cyprus were especially famed for their pottery, and this splendid vessel shows that reputation to be justified. Generous in size yet graceful in shape, it probably contained olives or perhaps figs-- two of the exports for which Cyprus was famed. Simple yet elegant, it continues to delight our senses even when empty. With time it has transcended its functional origins to achieve the status of art. - (PF.1989)   « Less

The design consists of two standing, facing figures. On the left is the god with mace, Ninshubur, wearing a hat with a deep brim, a the body and fall tojustabove theknees. He  More »

The design consists of two standing, facing figures. On the left is the god with mace, Ninshubur, wearing a hat with a deep brim, a the body and fall tojustabove theknees. He holds his mace at the waist. The other hand hangs down. On the right is Lamma goddess, in horned tiara and long flounced robe down attheback.Sheisholdingupboth hands in a gesture of greeting and respect. There is a crescent moon and solar disk in the sky.The remainder of the space inscription naming the firstownerofthisseal. But the seal, of a hard stone, passed to asecondownerwhodidnotofcoursewanttheprevious owner’snameonhisseal,soitwasrubbedoffandonlyafewtracesnowremain.Old Babylonian Cylinder Seal - LO.1089Origin: Central Asia Circa: 1900 BCto1400BCDimensions: 1.125" (2.9cm)high Collection:Near Eastern Art Style:Old Babylonian Medium:Hematite   « Less

In the Holy Land, where wells are scarce and far between, the water flask was part of every traveler's equipment. With a flattened circular body and handles through which a  More »

In the Holy Land, where wells are scarce and far between, the water flask was part of every traveler's equipment. With a flattened circular body and handles through which a cord could be passed, such flasks could be suspended from the shoulder to refresh the traveler on long journeys. In Samuel, the story is told of how David found king Saul sleeping in a cave. Though Saul was pursuing him with evil intent, David refused to harm the king. Instead, to demonstrate his mercy, David took only Saul's spear and the water flask near the king's head. That flask no doubt closely resembled this graceful one. As we hold this vessel in our hands today, we cannot help but wonder who drank from it so long ago. - (PF.2016)   « Less

‘A presentation scene of a seated god and three standing figures before him. The seated god wears a horned tiara and long flounced robe while sitting on an angular  More »

‘A presentation scene of a seated god and three standing figures before him. The seated god wears a horned tiara and long flounced robe while sitting on an angular stool. He carries a rod over one shoulder and with the other hand holds up a cup overflowing with water and holding three plant shoots. He is bearded, as is the first standing figure. He too is a god, in horned tiara but long robe falling in creases from the waist down. Behind him is a human couple: the man first, bearded and wearing a long fringed robe and raising one hand, the woman with head- band and long robe falling in creases, also raising one hand. There is a star (symbol of Venus) in the sky, and a tall mace and two scorpions are fillers in the scene. A stylised palm tree forms a terminal.Akkadian Cylinder Seal - LO.1090Origin: Central Asia Circa:2300BCto2200 BCDimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high Collection: Near Eastern Art Style:Akkadian Medium: Yellow Stone   « Less

In the Holy Land, where wells are scarce and far between, the water flask was part of every traveller's equipment. With a flattened circular body and handles through which a  More »

In the Holy Land, where wells are scarce and far between, the water flask was part of every traveller's equipment. With a flattened circular body and handles through which a cord could be passed, such flasks could be suspended from the shoulder to refresh the traveler on long journeys. In Samuel, the story is told of how David found king Saul sleeping in a cave. Though Saul was pursuing him with evil intent, David refues to harm the king. Instead, to demonstrate his mercy, David took only Saul's spear and the water flask near the king's head. That flask no doubt closely resembled this graceful one. As we hold this vessel in our hands today, we cannot help but wonder who drank from it so long ago. - (PF.2017)   « Less