Late 3rd-1st millennium BC. A mixed group of five bronze seals, all accompanied by typed and signed notes by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which state: (D-49) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 43 x 43 x 34mm. This has four arms, each ending in the head of a bird with beack on the ground and large prominent yee. These emet in the middle where there is a large handle, first with four ridges, then on top a pierced loop. The design on the face consists of a simple cross, thickest and deepest in the middle. This seal comes from north-west Iran, and dates to c. 1000-700 B.C. It is a fine one of its type, and in very good condition.'; (K-7) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 43 x 31 x 14mm. This originally had the form of a Greek cross, on each other edge of which was put the head of a gazelle or other horned animal, while a loop handle of inverted V-shape was mounted on the back. Only three of the heads remain, and with the lacking head one bar of the cross is also lost. this seal comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It has a rare and most interesting design, but lacks one section, The metal is also in need of conservation.'; (R-947) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 32 x 30 x 14mm. This has the shape of what is depicted: a heraldic eagle with head sideways at the top, wings spread and tail feathers down. The face is flat and compartmented, with a circle and dot in the middle. The back is flat with bevelled edge and a loop handle in the middle. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It is in good condition and the metal has been conserved. Those with dot in circle in the middle are not common.'; (V-821) 'Stamp Seal Bronze, 31 x 18 x 21mm. This represents a foot of human type, and has that shape, with flat compartmented face and flat back, on which is mounted a tall angular handle, pierced at its bottom. The design show four toes and some other item within the area of the sole. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It is a rare type and in fair condition. The middle of the foot is worn down, and there is a hole in the heel.'; (U-679) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 26 x 28 x 13.5mm. This bears the shape of the design, with flat compartmented face and flat back on which is mounted a U-shaped handle of thick metal. The design is a combination of shapes and not easy to interpret. The two opposite long curving shapes might be meant as horns of a quadruped, but this is not certain. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It has a rare design and is in generally good condition.' 99 grams total, 30-43mm (1 1/4- 1 3/4"). The Signo collection, the property of a West London businessman, formed in the late 1980s-early 1990s; collection numbers U-679, R-947, V-821, D-49, K-7, academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s. [5]
Condition
Fine condition.