ASTA 267 - GLITTICA

A RARE MESOPOTAMIAN WHITE AGATE TURTLE AMULET.

2nd millenium B.C.

23 mm

The animal with a round shell and flat underside. The small, protruding head with two small perforations on top, once with inlays. The four extremities are elongated (missing feet). On top, engraved cross pattern (formerly inlaid). In Mesopotamia the turtle was not only a sought-after food but also attributed with healing power, the reason why it was worn as an amulet. Wear marks. Missing parts and deposits.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A BACTRIAN BANDED AGATE BEAD PENDANT.

2nd millenium B.C.

H 24 mm

With arrow shape and thin central ridge. Pierced at the base.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A NEAR EASTERN BANDED AGATE BEAD PENDANT.

1st millenium B.C.

H 28 mm

Of tronconical shape. Pierced on top. 

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A SEMITIC AGATE NECKLACE ELEMENT IN THE SHAPE OF A CRESCENT MOON.

9th century B.C.

L. 28 mm

In the shape of a crescent moon, no pierced, probably to be mounted in a gold frame. Possibly referring to the crescent moon of Inanna (Ishtar). Wear marks. Very good overall conservation.

Provenance: Formerly Swiss private collection, acquired in the early 1990's, then by descent, family collection since 1998. This lot is sold under temporary import status.

TWO BACTRIAN AGATE NECKLACE BEADS.

3rd-2nd Millenium B.C.

H 36 mm; H 43 mm

Of biconical shape and pierced lenghtwise. With beautiful natural veins and color range,these beads were formerly part of a necklace. 

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A GROUP OF 33 SUMERIAN AGATE BEADS FOR NECKLACE.

6th century B.C.

Min. 6x6 mm; max 22x39 mm

Of different shapes and pierced lenghtwise. Wear marks. Some chips on the edge.

Provenance: Formerly Swiss private collection, acquired in the early 1990's, then by descent, family collection since 1998. This lot is sold under temporary import status.

A PALEO-HEBREW AGATE ENGRAVED SEAL. ASTRAL SYMBOLS AND INSCRIPTION.

7th century B.C.

15x16x10 mm

Of oval shape, pierced lenghtwise. The back is engraved on three registers divided by two horizontal lines; on top, crescent moon and star, beneath, an inscription.

For a similar typology see: the Israeli Museum, Jerusalem.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A MIDDLE EASTERN AGATE BEAD SEAL.

2nd millenium B.C.

22x29x14 mm

Of almond shape, the back is highly convex and engraved of a cuneiform inscription (to be identified) meanwhile the reverse is flat. Pierced lenghtwise. The stone is partially burnt. Sign of use, natural cracks on the surface of the stone.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

AN ACHAEMENID BANDED AGATE SCARABOID SEAL. RULER KILLING A LION.

5th-4th century B.C.

13x20x7 mm

Of oblongue shape,pierced lenghtwise. The flat side engraved with a ruler standing left and subduing a lion. Use of globular elements for the anatomical details. Wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired on the art market in the early 2000s

AN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SANDSTONE JEWELRY MOLD

Early 1st millenium B.C.

37x49x9 mm;

One half of a jewellery mould carved from a light coloured sandstone: used for making metal trinkets, and jewelry elements. It consists of a square block with matrices or negatives on both sides for casting trinkets, in lead or in gold. The matrices on one side include a disc element with star pattern inside, a pear-shaped cable pattern and a cross pattern. On opposite angles, presence of a hole that was used to fixed the other side of the matrice during the fusion.


For a similar typology see: Louvre Museum, Paris, AO 20389 ; RS 7.021

Provenance: U.K. private, acquired on the art market 1980s-1990s

AN EGYPTIAN CARNELIAN SCARAB. EMBLEMA.

Late Period, 664-332 B.C.

13x16x8 mm

The back sculpted in a stylized manner. The reverse engraved with hieroglyphs "k3-hs-r3". Cable border. Wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired on the art market in the early 2000s

A EASTERN ROMAN BLUE CHALCEDONY BLANK SEAL.

2nd - 6th century A.D.

17,5x24x20 mm

Pierced lenghtwise. Probably Near Eastern - Sasanian. Beautiful deep blue tone. Wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired on the art market in the early 2000s

AN EASTERN ROMAN CHALCEDONY SEAL CAMEO. SLEEPING DOG.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

Diam 18 x 9 mm.

Disc-shaped piece perforated (Throughhole); looking the size, probably for a swivel ring. Modeled in high relief, the hound rests with his head between his outstretched forepaws. The curving line of his spine and long tail follows the curved edge of the stone. Iron traces and deposits. Wear marks. Rare type.

A similar stone, but perforated as a phalera, is from Christie’s New York, 13 December 2002, lot 613; published in ARGOS: The Dog in Antiquity, Phoenix Ancient Art 41, 2022, no. 12, pp. 48-51.

Provenance: From the collection of an European gentleman, acquired on the art market

AN UNUSUAL EASTERN ROMAN TRIANGULAR GARNET INTAGLIO. BUCRANE HEAD.

2nd century A.D.

10x13x3 mm

Bucrane in frontal view characterized by stylized garland and striated horns. Wear marks and light chips on the edge. Convex surface on the front but concave backside.Rare.

For similar iconography see: the serie of roman bronze appliques in Cabinet des Medailles, Paris. See also Cabinet des Medailles, Chandon.266; de Clercq.2496;
Pauvert.34

Provenance: This lot is sold under temporary import status.

A SASANIAN GARNET INTAGLIO SET IN A GOLD RING. ZEBU.

3rd - 4th century A.D.

Stone 10x12 mm; int. diam 18 mm; 14,40 gr

With rounded hoop expanding upwards onto a grooved rounded bezel set with a garnet seal. A zebu facing left inside a cable frame. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A KUSHAN GOLD RING WITH A GARNET INTAGLIO. FEMALE PORTRAIT.

3rd century A.D.

Stone 9x12 mm; int. size 9,.5x13 mm; 4,18 gr

With large hollowed rounded hoop ending with an almond-shaped bezel set with a garnet intaglio; female portrait facing left. She is characterized by young features, her hair tied up in the back in a chignon. Wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired on the art market in the early 2000s

A SASANIAN GOLD RING WITH A NICOLO INTAGLIO. MALE BUST WITH AN EMBLEMA.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

Stone 14x17 mm; int. Size 13x15 mm; 8,44 gr

With massive hoop, rounded without and flatten within, expanding upwards on the carenated shoulders surmounting a flat almond-shaped bezel set with a raised nicolo intaglio; Male bust facing left with a monogram. Wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired on the art market in the early 2000s

A RARE KUSHAN GOLD RING WITH A NICOLO INTAGLIO. ELEPHANT WITH INSCRIPTION.

3rd century A.D.

Stone 11x12 mm; int. Size 14,5x18 mm; 4,57 gr

With rounded hoop expanding upwards in a large oval box-setting with a nicolo intaglio; elephant with Karoshti inscription "MAHOUT". Wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired from D.C. collection, London.

A FINE SASANIAN GOLD RING WITH A NICOLO INTAGLIO. BUST OF A WOMAN WITH MOON, STAR AND INSCRIPTION.

5th - 6th century A.D.

Stone 13x15 mm; int. size 18x20 mm; 16,35 gr

With rounded hoop, flatten within and expanding in carenated shoulders, surmounted by a raised box setting with a gold spherical bead on top (in order to specify the position for the impression). The intaglio depicts a female bust facing left with hair ornaments, large earrings and necklace. In the field, star and moon. On the right, a pahlavi inscription. Wear marks, chip on the edge.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired on the London art market in the early 2000s

A ROMAN AGATE INTAGLIO SET IN A REVIVAL BYZANTINE GOLD RING. MALE PORTRAIT.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

Stone 11x13 mm; int. diam. 15 mm; 9,67 gr

The hoop made of two doves facing each other and holding the high raised box-setting with hatched incisions on the base and containing a Roman Eastern agate intaglio; male portrait facing left and characterized by young features. Wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired on the art market in the early 2000s

A ROMAN GOLD RING WITH AN AGATE INTAGLIO. GODDESS.

2nd century A.D.

Stone 10x14 mm; int. size 15x18 mm; 3,89 gr

With massive rounded hoop expanding upwards on the shoulders and surmounted by an oval flatten bezel containg an agate intaglio; a goddess standing left with himation, holding ear of corns in her hands (probably Ceres). Behind, an amphora. Groundline. Wear marks.

Provenance: Formerly Antiquarium Ltd, NY; From a private collection, France, acquired on the art market in the early 2000s

AN EASTERN GOLD ARCHITECTURAL RING.

circa 9th-12th century A.D.

H max 40 mm; int. Size 15x17 mm; 8,41 gr.

With a thin rounded hoop extending on the shoulders with granulated work. The bezel is formed of very high raised structure in the shape of an architecture, with two main sections; the base composed of a serie of tubular saldered elements supporting a "tower-shaped" box setting composed of the same elements ending with conical shaped granulated elements. This ring reminds the typology of "house rings" or engagement rings that appears during the medieval era in Near and Middle-Eastern. Nice overall condition. Patina deposit, wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired on the art market.

A LARGE FATIMID GOLD GRANULATED RING WITH A RECTANGULAR BEZEL TABLE SET WITH A LAPIS LAZULI.

10th-12th century A.D.

Stone 11x14 mm; int. diam 15,5 mm; 9,31 gr.

With rounded hoop and high extended shoulders fully decorated of granulation and surmounted by a "table bezel" set with a large lapis lazuli stone. This typology is referrable to the Fatimid Severe style. Very good overall condition. Intact surface with patina deposit. Beautiful variety of the stone.

For the same typology see: Marian WENZEL, the Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, Ornament & Amulet, pp. 42 ff

Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired on the art market.

A GRAECO-PERSIAN AGATE ENGRAVED SEAL SET IN A LATE HELLENISTIC GOLD SWIVEL RING BEZEL.

The mounting: Late hellenistic, 2nd century B.C. The seal: Late Archaic period, 6th-5th century B.C.

16x20x8 mm; 3 gr

Consisting of a gold box setting of oval form with granulated triangular points and spherical beads containing a layered agate seal (pierced lengthwise), the back engraved of a roaring lion facing right. The style and iconography is referrable to the late Archaic period. Each side of the box setting is also pierced and adorned on the edge with 5 hollowed spherical beads of flower pattern.

Provenance: U.K. private collection