3rd-1st millennium BC. A group of ten stamp seals including five accompanied by typed and signed notes by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham 1970-1993, which state: (1605) 'Stamp Seal of Brown Stone, 18 x 20 x 12.5mm. This seal has a flat oblong base, ridged sides flaring inwards to the handle, which is pierced. It has two grooves over the top, and another groove around the sides. The design shows a prancing stag with a bird(?) above its back and two wedges between its legs. This is a seal of Syria or Anatolia, c. 900-600 B.C. It is in good condition.'; (T-553) 'Stamp Seal of Green Stone, 24 x 23 x 18mm. This has a roughly flat square face and sides that flare inwards to a ridge supporting a platform on which is a pierced loop handle. The design on the face shows a standing horned quadruped and various extra cuts, including a simple cross. This comes from west central Asia or some area to its west and dates to c. 4000-3400 B.C. It is a little damaged, but generally in fair condition. The extra cuts were made in the ancient world as the seal passed to a new owner.'; (R-441) 'Stamp Seal of Dark-coloured Stone, 24 x 18 x 13mm. This is oblong with a flat face, and sides which flare inwards to the base of a recumbent quadruped, between the legs of which it is pierced. The design shows a standing human frontally, apparently holding something in one hand, and with a blob above one shoulder. This is a rare design, but no doubt from Syria or Anatolia, dating to c. 1200-600 B.C. The back is damaged, and the object generally is worn.'; (W-44) 'Stamp Seal of White Stone: 14 x 15 x 8mm. This is an oblong plaque with pierced suspension loop of one piece on the back. The design on the face shows a bison with head down in trough and above it script symbols. This comes from the Indus Valley or a neighbouring area, and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It is cracked, but otherwise in good condition. So far the script has not been deciphered.'; (1518) 'Bifacial Stamp Seal of Fawn Stone, 31 x 21 x 12mm. On the one side is a heraldic eagle, with wings spread and tail feathers down. Each side is a scrolling line. On the other side is a standing man, with hair hanging down to his shoulder, a scabbard at the waist, and raising one hand. Other small items occur to his right and left, but are now partially obscured by incrustation. This seal comes from eastern Iran or Bactria, and dates to c. 2300-1800 B.C. It is a rare item, but a little worn on the clear side, and in need of cleaning on the other side.' and four bifacial seals, one white oblong-shaped with hatched quatrefoil design to one side, camel to the other; one square with two facing figures to one side, to the other an assortment of symbols including a crescent, two vase-shaped symbols, a circle and a plant; one black oblong-shaped with two horned quadrupeds to one side, ten vertical lines to the other; one oblong seal with tall body gentle sloping to a round knop handle, to the face a stylised horned zoomorphic head; one black square seal with ridged and pierced knop handle, to the face a canine and a galloping quadruped, possibly a horse. 111 grams, 14-31mm (1/2-1 1/4"). The Signo collection, the property of a West London businessman, formed in the late 1980s-early 1990s; collection numbers 235, 1585, 1605, 1730, R-441, R-565, T-553, V-653, W-44, Y-385, academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s. Dr. Bonewitz notes: The seals are made from serpentine (3), limestone (3) , bone (2), ceramic (1), jasper (1"). [10] Fine condition.
