A superb inscribed cylinder seal, Kassite period c. 1600-1300 BC. Large and beautyful cylinder, carved in black hematite with a silverish shine. As typical for the Kassite  More »

A superb inscribed cylinder seal, Kassite period c. 1600-1300 BC. Large and beautyful cylinder, carved in black hematite with a silverish shine. As typical for the Kassite period the seals are with only weak standing figures, but a lot of sharp cuneiform in 4 rows. 19th. cent. collection mount with the letter 'K'. The inscription in Cuneiform letters, not translated, but usually a long prayer. Condition: EF.   « Less

Superb condition Bamiyan glazed pottery bowl, dating to the 11th.-12th. century. The bowl is very deep with a high foot. the central design is floral with engraved  More »

Superb condition Bamiyan glazed pottery bowl, dating to the 11th.-12th. century. The bowl is very deep with a high foot. the central design is floral with engraved scrolls. On the side also engraved scrolls and signed with signature of the maker! Beautiful crackled glaze and awesome colours in hand. Size: 155x66 mm. This bowl is in EXTRA FINE condition, as made, no repairs whatsoever, 100% original 900 years old glaze! A fantastic piece that you would not encounter often.   « Less

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A very rare type of large Sassanian stamp seal, dating to the 3th.-5th. cent. AD. The seal is a made of a high quality Calchedony gem stone with a good mottled colour. The  More »

A very rare type of large Sassanian stamp seal, dating to the 3th.-5th. cent. AD. The seal is a made of a high quality Calchedony gem stone with a good mottled colour. The seal is engraved with an image of a man walking with a large staff or wand. It might be a representation of a god and highly unusual. The seal is huge, measuring some 25x21mm. The seal weighs 10,28 grams - a full size seal! Provenance: Gorny & Mosch, December 2010, Ex. old German collection. Condition: EF. A top seal, flawless!   « Less

An outstanding quality Achaemenid bronze wine bowl, phiale with a large, distinctive omphalos in the center, dating 6th.-4th. century BC. The phiale has a globular shape  More »

An outstanding quality Achaemenid bronze wine bowl, phiale with a large, distinctive omphalos in the center, dating 6th.-4th. century BC. The phiale has a globular shape with a flaring rim. The metal is perfectly fresh - typical alloy for ancient Persia with a high tin amount. Very heavy specimen for type with thick walls and a nice 'ringing sound' when tapped. Size: c. 150 mm. wide and c. 58 mm. high. A very large bronze bowl! Condition: Superb! A few minor brassy marks from cleaning on the exterior as seen in the pictures. Some earthern and green encrustations is left, which can be easily removed.   « Less

A rare and very large double-sided stamp seal, dating to the 3rd. millenium BC. The seal is most possibly Sumerian, since one side looks like a smaller version of the  More »

A rare and very large double-sided stamp seal, dating to the 3rd. millenium BC. The seal is most possibly Sumerian, since one side looks like a smaller version of the famous Sumerian ceramic text tablets. The other side shows the image of a 4-legged animal. The seal has a flat design and is 29 mm. long and c. 21-22 mm. wide. It's pierced for supension. An extremely rare seal, that should be studied carefully. Condition: Choice, some light wear, but not affecting the central design, no chips. Ex. Earik K. Rasmussen Collection, ex. Swedish private Collection (Lauritz Auctions 2007).   « Less

Rare and extremely large Babylonian cylinder seal in black limestone, dating to Early dynastic period 3000-2700 BC. Size: 47 mm. The seal deoicts two rows of horned  More »

Rare and extremely large Babylonian cylinder seal in black limestone, dating to Early dynastic period 3000-2700 BC. Size: 47 mm. The seal deoicts two rows of horned quadropeds and a symbol, that looks like a human eye or a female symbol for fertility (?). Provenance: Erik Rasmussen Collection (published in his book 'The cylinder seal as an object d'art' p. 46. The seal originates from the Erlenmeyer Collection (Christies c. 1998)   « Less

A rare and large, stamp seal, Prehistoric Iran, 3rd.-2nd. mill BC. The seal is carved 'biface' with motifs on both sides - in this case a floral motif in high  More »

A rare and large, stamp seal, Prehistoric Iran, 3rd.-2nd. mill BC. The seal is carved 'biface' with motifs on both sides - in this case a floral motif in high relief. The seal is carved in a light brown or beige stone. The stone measure c. 27 mm. x 13 mm. Condition: Superb! Provenance: German Private Collection   « Less

Highly attractive Persian bronze bowl, Achaemenid Empire, 6th.-4th. Cent. BC. Finely made low rim drinking vessel possibly made for ritual offering. Size: 110 x 40 mm.  More »

Highly attractive Persian bronze bowl, Achaemenid Empire, 6th.-4th. Cent. BC. Finely made low rim drinking vessel possibly made for ritual offering. Size: 110 x 40 mm. Condition: Superb! This bowl is a condition rarity, through made of rather thin bronze, it's without degradation of the metal and corrosion. Just dark green, almost black patina with some uncleaned brown dirt, especially in the interior.   « Less

TERRACOTTA GODDESS, MIDDLE ELAMITE, CIRCA 1500-1000 BC Middle Elamite terracotta goddess, standing with her hands cupping her breasts, wearing earrings, bracelets, necklaces  More »

TERRACOTTA GODDESS, MIDDLE ELAMITE, CIRCA 1500-1000 BC Middle Elamite terracotta goddess, standing with her hands cupping her breasts, wearing earrings, bracelets, necklaces shoulder-straps with a star pendant etc. Size is c. 145 mm. Exellent condition. Cf. Sotheby’s, Antiquities, New York, December 17, 1998, lot 443. The terracotta figurines are considered to be among the most original of Susa’s artistic expressions. In successive phases over a period of about three millennia, the inhabitants of the Susiana plain fashioned the clay they found beneath their feet into animal and human forms, first by hand and later by using molds. By the latter means they bestowed upon their figurines, a great variety of ornaments, such as elaborate earrings, diadems, necklaces (some times bearing star pendants) and anklets, and ringbone shoulder-straps, as in the present examples. These were produced outside the realm of official commissions, although some of the cast examples were made by skilled craftsman and are of very high quality. These small figures were intended for private individuals and their inspiration. Objects of this type are chiefly of interest for what they reveal about Susians’ daily preoccupations and the evolution of their mode of thought. It should be noted that a great majority of Susian figurines demonstrate a complete independence from Mesopotamian production, except in times when Susa was under Akkadian or Babylonian rule. A few examples of Susian figurines, such as these ones, were fashioned with a great variety of ornamentation. A few appear to have made their way into private or public collections. This includes the examples excavated by Roland de Mecquenem in Susa (1897-1946) and now conserved under inventories Sb 7797 and Sb 7763 in the Museum de Louvre, Paris. For these examples see: P. O. Harper, J. Aruz, F Tallon, The Royal City of Susa, Ancient Near Eastern Treasures in the Louvre (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, ex cat.), 1993, p. 132, nos. 132-133.   « Less