Western Asiatic Stamp Seal Group

Late 3rd-1st millennium BC. A mixed group of ten bronze seals with various shapes and designs including seven accompanied by typed and signed notes by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which state: (U-501) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 16 x 23 x 12mm. This is roughly a half-circle, with scalloped curving edge but straight line marking the half. The face is flat and compartmented while the back is a little convex and bears a looping handle. The design consists of an arch and over it a larger looping arch. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It is a rare design, but it is worn and one end is missing. The incrustation could be removed.'; (U-499) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 25 x 16 x 19mm. This bears the shape of the design, with flat compartmented face and flat back, in the middle of which is a stalk handle ending in a suspension loop. The design consists of a central circle and four curving, pointed arms spreading from it. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2100-1800 B.C. One of the arms is missing, otherwise the piece is in fair condition.'; (R-706) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 21 x 18 x 15mm. This has a flat face and slightly convex back, from which a stalk handle rises, with loop on the top. The design, which is reflected in the shape of the object, is compartmented and shows a trefoil motif with linear divisions. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2100-1800 B.C. It is in very good condition.'; (T-817) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 12 x 25 x 7mm. This has the shape of what is depicted, with flat face and flat back, on which is mounted a handle of the pierced loop type. The design on the face shows a crouching quadruped, most probably a small springing animal. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. The piece is bent at the one end, and the face is rather worn down, but it is a rare type.'; (B-12) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 16 x 15 x 20mm. This has a flat, compartmented face, and a solid back which rises to a stalk handle surmounted with a pierced handle. The design is composed of three crescents which have ends touching the rim. This comes from the Bronze Age of west central Asia, probable date c. 2000-1500 B.C. It has some incrustation which could be removed, but is otherwise in very good condition.'; (38-B) Stamp Seal in the form of an oblong plaque of bronze, 29 x 9 x 5mm, with five sides engraved and a pierced handle on the top, condition fair. The bottom shows a quadruped, the sides show: (a) a standing human figure raising one hand, with other items around, (b) a branch or tree, (c) a recumbent sphynx with plant(?) in front of it, sideways, and (d) a branch or tree. This is an Urartian seal, c.800-600 B.C., of a rare type.'; (V-725) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 19 x 16 x 13mm. This appears to copy something in nature, perhaps a camel's hoof. The face is flat and hollowed out with a design. The back is slightly convex and bears a stalk handle in the middle, with suspension loop on top. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. There is some incrustation on the surface, and one corner is worn and damaged, but the condition otherwise is quite good. It is a rare type.' 58 grams total, 16-24mm (3/4-1"). The Signo collection, the property of a West London businessman, formed in the late 1980s-early 1990s; collection numbers B-12, T-817, R-706, U-499, U-501, 38-B (47), academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s. [10]
Condition Report: Fine condition.