Central Asian Compartmented Stamp Seal Collection

3rd-2nd millennium BC. A mixed group of ten bronze seals of various shapes and designs, including six accompanied by a typed and signed scholarly note issued by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: (P-36) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 45.5 x 45 x 42.5mm. This has a round, flat face and flat back, on which is mounted a stalk handle. The top of this is flattened, with two grooves over it, and just below which the handle is pierced. The design consists of a Greek cross and the resulting quarters are filled with inverted V shapes. This comes from west central Asia or eastern Iran, and dates to c. 2000-1500 B.C. It is a large one and in very good condition.'; (T-747) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 24 x 24 x 42mm. This has a roughly round face, and a back which rises steeply to a round loop on top. The design on the face is done in raised lines and dots, and consists of a central dot, another at the edge, and four linear motifs around: an M, two crescents, and an irregular curving line. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2200-1800 B.C. It is unusually tall, and the metal is in good condition though the face is worn down in sports along the rim.'; (T-732) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 24 x 23 x 23.5mm. This has a round flat face, and a back which rises steeply to an oval suspension loop, with secondary hole from the top. The design on the face, in raised lines, consists of two of the same linear motifs, tête bêche. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2200-1800 B.C. The metal has been conserved, and the piece is in fair condition.'; (T-234) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 23 x 24 x 26.5mm. This is roughly round, with flat face and flat back, on which is mounted a stalk handle with large circle at the top. The design on the face is linear and consists of two pairs of opposite crescents, one within the other, and the remaining spaces are filled with crescents resting on short rods. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2200-1800 B.C. It is generally well preserved, the metal being in sound condition, but an outer rim has been worn off.; (R-896) Stamp Seal of Bronze, 27 x 25.5 x 43mm. This has a flat oval face and tall handle with high central ridge around it and two smaller ridges both above and below the central one, with pierced loop handle on the top. The design on the face shows a central standing hero grappling with two lions, one each side, the one on the right with head down, the one on the left with head up. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2000-1500 B.C. It is a rare type and in good condition except that the outer rim of the face is largely worn off.'; (T-837) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 26 x 26 x 23mm. This has a round flat face and flat back, on which is mounted a stalk handle ending in a round pierced loop. The design on the face is done in raised lines and consists of four crescents based on the outer rim, and a curving line from the outer rim to the centre. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2200-1800 B.C. The rim is worn down at one point, but generally the piece is in very good condition.' See Henrickson, E., 'Chalcolithic Seals and Sealings from Seh Gabi, Central Western Iran' in Iranica Antiqua 23, 1988, pp. 1-19, pl.XXXVI for similar seals. 376 grams total, 22-47mm (1-1 3/4"). The Signo collection, the property of a West London businessman, formed in the late 1980s-early 1990s; collection numbers P-36, T-234, T-732, T-747, R-896, T-837, X-72, T-447, Y-837, U-326, academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s. [10]
Condition Report: Fine condition.