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Ancient Middle East


Oriental Antiquities.



2,022 photos
Carnelian seal stone, Sasanian, 5th century. This is an exceptionally large and finely carved Sasanian carnelian seal stone. The inscription, in Pahlavi characters, names him as 'Vehdin-Shapur, chief store-keeper of Iran'. He was probably an official under Yazdagird II (reigned AD 438-57). His high rank is shown by his elaborate headdress. ANE, 119994
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Carnelian seal stone, Sasanian, 5th century. This is an exceptionally large and...

Cast brass pen-box, Western Iran, 1281. The interior of the lid has roundels containing the personifications of the planets; from right to left there is Saturn with his pick axe, Jupiter with a book, Mars with a sword and severed head, the Sun in the centre, Venus playing the lute, Mercury writing a document, and the Moon holding a crescent. Every available space is filled with animal interlaced in a never-ending scroll design emanating from a series of knots.The signature of the craftsman is beneath the clasp and so would be hidden when the penbox was closed. This tiny penbox was designed to be treasured by its owner. The decoration is so fine that it is hard to appreciate unless held in the hand and every surface, including the base, is covered in precious inlays. The interior is lacking the ink and sand pots which would have been inserted within the right end. OA, 1891.6-23.5
#03070163

Cast brass pen-box, Western Iran, 1281. The interior of the lid has roundels con...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Human headed monster trampling a hind. Bronze, 18 x 18 cm
#03070164

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Human headed monster tr...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological animals. Bronze, H:19 cm
#03070165

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological an...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological animals. Bronze, H:19 cm
#03070166

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological an...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological animals. Bronze, H:19 cm
#03070167

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological an...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological animals. Bronze, H:19 cm
#03070168

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological an...

Goddesses and men protecting a palm tree. Facade of Inshushinak's temple, allegory of strength and consistency (reconstruction), from Susa, Iran 137 x 105 cm - Sb 2734-2735
#03070169

Goddesses and men protecting a palm tree. Facade of Inshushinak's...

Striped plate, blue glass. H: 6,5, diameter 22,8 cm Graeco-Roman Treasure of Begram, Afghanistan, 1st-2nd CE From Phoenician workshops or from Alexandria. MG 19078
#050104 4

Striped plate, blue glass. H: 6,5, diameter 22,8 cm...

Solar and lunar gods. Watercolour copy of a mural from the Fundukistan monastery, niche K, Ghorband Valley, Afghanistan. H: 58 cm, L: 54 cm MG 24018
#05010542

Solar and lunar gods. Watercolour copy of a mural from the Fundukistan mon...

Solar and lunar gods, 58 x 44 cm Watercolour copy of a mural from the Fundukistan monastery, niche K, Ghorband Valley, Afghanistan. 7th CE MG 24018
#05010543

Solar and lunar gods, 58 x 44 cm Watercolour copy of a mu...

Megalithic monuments in Gezer, probably representing the 12 tribes of Israel.
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Megalithic monuments in Gezer, probably representing th...