Beschreibung:

Indus Valley Openwork Seal Matrix Group Late 3rd-2nd millennium BC A mixed group of ten bronze stamp seals with various shapes and designs, including eight accompanied by typed and signed notes by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which state: (T-956) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 41 x 40 x 14.5mm. This is round, with flat face and flat back, on which is mounted a handle of inverted U-shape. The design, which is both compartmented and open-work, consists of a rosette with six petals joined by six sets of struts to a plain outer rim. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. The outer rim is dented a little, and the handle is worn, but generally the piece is in good condition, the metal being sound.'; (T-957) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 43 x 43 x 12mm. This is round, with flat face and flat back, on which is mounted a handle of inverted U-shape. The design, which is both compartmented and open-work, consists of two concentric circles in the middle joined to a plain outer band by four struts supporting two crescents each resting on the outer band, with T-shapes joining the central circles to the crescents. The outer band has four segments. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. The outer rim is dented, but generally the piece is in good condition.'; (T-805) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 40 x 40 x 13mm. this is round, with flat face and flat back, on which is mounted a handle of inverted V-shape. The design, which is both compartmented and open-work, consists of a rosette with four petals within a plan outer band divided into four quarters by short struts. Between each pair of petals is a strut beginning from the centre as a simple line, the ending in a crescent shape on the outer band. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c . 2300-2000 B.C. The outer rim is dented, otherwise the piece is in good condition.'; (T-668) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 35 x 35 x 11mm. The shape of this piece reflects the design. The face is flat, as is the back, on which is mounted a handle of inverted U-shape. the design, which is both compartmented and open-work, consists of a central greek cross, on the end of each arm of which is an open circle, these four circles being joined by struts. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It is a rare design, and is in good condition. Some green corrosion on the surface can be removed.'; (K-8) 'Stamp Seal of bronze, 27 x 26 x 10mm. This is roughly sqaure, with flat back and face, with a loop handle mounted on the back. The face is compartmented, but not open-work. It is divided by straight lines into four quarters that are also rough squares, and then in each quarter a line bending at right-angles creates a small square in the corner of each quarter and an L-shaped area extending to the centre. This is a seal from west central Asia, c. 2500-2300 B.C. it is in fine condition.'; (R-709) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 36 x 36 x 12mm. This has the form of a Greek cross in the centre with a somewhat smaller Greek cross added to the ends of the bars of the central one, but with curved ends to their outer bars. The face and back of the seal are flat, and there is a pierced handle on the back, while the design on the front is compartmented. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. The ends of the outer crosses are worn, but otherwise it is in good condition. The handle is badly bent, but this seems to have happened at the time of use.'; (V-861) 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 39 x 37 x 14mm. This is round, more or less, with flat face and flat back in the centre of which is a handle of inverted U-shape. the design, which is both compartmented and open-work, consists of a simple cross, and each quarter so created is filled with a V-shape resting on the outer rim. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. There is some pressed earth on the surface, and green corrosion, but the