1900-1700 BC. A carved haematite cylinder seal with deities, symbols and cuneiform text; accompanied by a museum-quality impression and an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: Cylinder Seal of Hematite 24.5 x 9.5 mm. The two main figures are the god with the mace on the left, and facing him a Lamma goddess on the right. She is clad in a long robe, while he has a kilt to the knees. She raises both hands, while he holds the hand gripping the mace at the waist. Between them there is an unidentified motif. To the right there are two fillers: a nude female with hands clasped at the waist above a monkey. There is a two-line cuneiform inscription: dšamaš Šamaš / da-a Aya. Šamaš is the sun-god, Aya his wife. This is an Old Babylonian seal, c. 1900-1700 B.C., and the two main figures have been cut largely with the drill. There is some corrosion of the stone. 6.04 grams, 24mm (1"). Property of a London gentleman; aquired in the late 1970s and 1980s. This lot is part of a single collection of cylinder seals which were examined in the 1980s by Professor Lambert and most are accompanied by his own detailed notes; the collection has recently been reviewed by Dr. Ronald Bonewitz.

Fine condition.