Beschreibung:

WESTERN ASIATIC CYLINDER SEAL WITH MONKEY AND VULTURES 1100-900 BC A bitumen cylinder seal with two borders to the top and bottom, centre is left empty, with seated monkey between vultures in the top register, and monkey in front of a solar symbol with griffins to either side; accompanied by a museum-quality impression, and an old scholarly note by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: "Cylinder seal of bitumen. This has two designs, one at each end, and tête bêche, with a blank band in the middle. Each design is enclosed within upper and lower rulings. The one shows a seated monkey in the middle, behind a vulture standing with wings spread and head down, and in front of the monkey a second, walking vulture holding a diamond-shaped object in its beak. The other end shows an elaborate solar disc, to its right the seated monkey, to its left a recumbent winged bull and the diamond shape. this is a seal from south-west Iran, c. 100-900 BC. It is chipped at the ends, but otherwise in fine condition. Seals with two designs like this are rare." 10.78 grams, 48mm (2"). Very fine condition. Rare. Provenance Property of a London gentleman; part of his family collection since the 1970s. Footnotes This lot is part of a single collection of cylinder seals which were examined in the 1980s by Professor Lambert and most are accompanied by his own detailed notes; the collection has recently been reviewed by Dr. Ronald Bonewitz.