Lot 95, Auction 3/19/2026: Elamite Bitumen Cylinder Seal, appraised by W. Lambert

$1,430.00

In stock

Near East, Iran, Elamite culture, ca. 1100 to 900 BCE. A bitumen cylinder seal with a tall, slender profile and a drilled perforation for suspension, carved in two framed registers separated by a smooth central band. One end presents a compact animal tableau of two recumbent facing bulls with a seated monkey placed between them, while the opposite end shows two facing fish-goats in a similarly balanced composition. The imagery is arranged in neat horizontal bands, intended to read clearly when rolled, and reflects the enduring Elamite taste for stylized creatures and emblematic pairings. Accompanying the piece is a typewritten description signed in blue ink by Professor Wilfred George Lambert (1926-2011), a renowned Assyriologist and Fellow of the British Academy, celebrated for his expertise in Near Eastern archaeology. Size: 1.5″ L x 0.4″ W (3.8 cm x 1 cm)

Condition: Very good condition overall, with minor chipping to the upper rim. Mineral encrustations in recessed areas. Type written and signed note from Professor Wilfred George Lambert.

Provenance: private London, UK collection

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