Historical Relics From The Land Of The Bible
JEWISH OSSUARY LAMPS STONE AMPHORA POTTERY BRONZE
JEWISH ANTIQUITIES
10629. IMPORTANT JUDAEAN CARVED LIMESTONE RELIEF WITH MENORAH, c. 1st century BC/AD. 10.5"h x 19"l x 4"d. An exceptional and imposing piece of ancient Judaic. Provenance: The Arthur M. Sackler collection. Collected in the 1970's or earlier. Possibly published in one of the dozen or so books documenting the Sackler collection. Closeup. Side. Back. SOLD.
EXTREMELY RARE POSSIBLE FIRST TEMPLE OFFERING VESSEL 10647. JEWISH ISRAELITE OFFERING VESSEL IN THE FORM OF A POMEGRANATE. Israel, c. 10th - 9th century BC. Vessel in the shape of a pomegranate with red painted decoration, Canaan, Middle Bronze Age, ca. 1600–1500 BC. 7" height x 5.25" diameter. The vessel in the form of a pomegranate nearly identical to the famous ivory pomegranate thought to come from the First Temple. Small spout lost. Quite possibly used to pour libations in Solomon's Temple. An exceptionally rare historical artifact, the only one of its kind I've been able to document. Reverse image.
The famous ivory pomegranate, considered by some the most important artifact in the Israel Museum, is thought to have been the head of a scepter used by the high priest of Solomon's Temple though some have questioned its authenticity.
Provenance: The Arthur M. Sackler collection, ex Sotheby's. Collected in the 1970's or earlier. Possibly published in one of the dozen or so books documenting the Sackler collection.
Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987) was one of America's preeminent collectors. An M.D. by training, he amassed a fortune by gaining the rights to import and sell Valium in the United States. Sackler was a scholar and patron of the arts. He endowed galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Princeton University, the Arthur M. Sackler Museum at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archaeology at Peking University in Beijing, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C., and the Jillian & Arthur M. Sackler Wing at the Royal Academy, London. Among these buildings that bear Sackler's name are noteworthy designs by major architects. Especially important is his Arthur M. Sackler Museum in Cambridge, one of only four structures in the U.S. by James Stirling, widely regarded as the leading British architect of the 20th century. He also established a wide range of medical institutions bearing his name. The pieces offered here are all from the Arthur M. Sackler collection released by Sotheby's c. 2009 from long term storage. Sold at auction by Millea Bros. at the Morristown, New Jersey Armory, February 2011. "Collecting is an infection which is more intractable than any virus and from which there is no inoculation and no immunity." Arthur Sackler, Physician, Philanthropist, and Art Collector
$8500.
12816. RARE JUDAEAN BRONZE RITUAL LAMP. 1st century BC/AD. M 74 Green 5.0 x 5.7 cm. Jewish ritual lamp. Provenance: The University Collection. Verso.
8679. ANCIENT HEBREW INSCRIBED PENDANT AMULET, Near East / Holy Land, c. 1st millennium BCE. A rare teardrop-shaped black and white marble amulet incised with two Hebrew characters, "He" and "Resh," the fifth and twentieth letter of the Semitic abjads respectively. These may represent someone's name or a personalized prayer, worn on this amulet for protection. Amulets inscribed with ancient Semitic letters have been found at a number of archaeological sites, usually in burials, sometimes placed inside of offering vessels made of ceramic. We know of many from Ketef Hinnom, a series of burial chambers cut into the rock in natural caverns located southwest of Jerusalem's Old City. Some researchers have seen the inscriptions on these amulets as "magical spells." The narrowest end is drilled through for suspension. Size: 1.2" L (3 cm). Surface wear commensurate with age, including some wear around the drilled perforation for suspension. Incised letters are very clear. Rare and deserving of further study. Side 1. Side 2. Side 3. Side 4.
ANCIENT OSSUARIES
ANCIENT HOLY LAND OIL LAMPS
ANCIENT STONE VESSELS AND AMULETS
PUBLISHED IN 'THE POTTER'S GUIDE' 8974. RARE ISRAELITE BASALT 'POTTER'S WHEEL'. Late Caananite period, c. 1500-1200 BC. Composed of two polished stone disks, the projected lug of the top turning in the matching depression of the bottom, showing considerable rotational polish from long use. 5.5 x 3.3 inches. Cf. 'From The Beginning, Archaeology and Art in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem', Katz, Kahane and Broshi, #54 for a nearly identical example excavated at Hazor. Though described as a potter's wheel by Katz et. al., in this cataloger's (elo) view certain difficulties arise with this interpretation, such as how it could be rotated with a clay vessel perched on the irregular top in a stable constant manner. My own feeling is that it may have functioned as a grinding mill for kohl or other precious substances, or perhaps, since the Hazor example is described as having been found in a potter's shop, it was used to grind pigments for glazes or paints. Whatever it's use, an important museum quality, exceptionally rare and extremely interesting artifact that deserves further study. Published in the Ibook 'The Potter's Guide: Introduction to Working on the Wheel', by Paul Linhares.
6659. A HOLY LAND ALABASTER PYXIS, c. 2nd millennium BC. With 2 pierced lug handles, rim chip restored. 2.7". Rare.
ANCIENT AMPHORA
8975. LARGE HOLY LAND AMPHORA TOP WITH PAINTED INSCRIPTION, Roman amphora with inscription concerning content in red paint, Israel, 2–3rd century AD. The top with both handles and neck, several untranslated characters in red on the shoulder. 7 x 9 inches. A possibly important piece and certainly deserving of further study. Any information or translation much appreciated.
ANCIENT HOLY LAND POTTERY
12987. HOLY LAND POTTERY. Burnished Canaanite jar with lugged handles. Early Bronze II-III, c. 3000-2300 BC. Wide sharply out turned rim, 2 lug handles on small ring base. Beautiful burnished red-orange glaze. 8 x 8 inches. Excellent condition with no repair or restoration. Provenance: An extensive North Eastern collection, acquired from the European market and inspected and passed through US customs. Other side.
A RARE EXTRA LARGE CUP-LIKE FORM 12990. HOLY LAND POTTERY. Cup shaped jug. Late Bronze II, c. 1500 BC. Extra large cup-like pot with out turned rim, a single large handle and wide ring base. White slip with remains of reddish bands around the body. 6 x 7.25 inches. Some restoration to rim. Provenance: An extensive North Eastern collection, acquired from the European market and inspected and passed through US customs. Other side.
12991. HOLY LAND POTTERY. Painted jar with small handles and painted design. Early Bronze IV, c. 2300-2000 BC. Globular form with wide rim, 2 small ring handles and flat base. White slip with red swirl designs. 8.5 x 8 inches. Excellent condition with no repair or restoration. Provenance: An extensive North Eastern collection, acquired from the European market and inspected and passed through US customs. Other side.
UNUSUAL EARLY FORM 12995. HOLY LAND POTTERY. Burnished bag shaped juglet with ribbed top handle. Early Bronze II–III, c. 2700-2300 BC. Piriform vessel with top handle bridging rim ornamented with two serrated linear bands. 6.5 x 4 inches. Fine condition with no repair or restoration. A rare type. Provenance: An extensive North Eastern collection, acquired from the European market and inspected and passed through US customs. Other side.
UNUSUAL EARLY FORM 12996. HOLY LAND POTTERY. Tea-pot shaped juglet with top handle. Early Bronze II–III, c. 2700–2300 BC. Piriform vessel with top handle bridging rim and upward spout on the side. 7 x 5 inches. Fine condition with no repair or restoration. A rare type. Provenance: An extensive North Eastern collection, acquired from the European market and inspected and passed through US customs. Other side.
9577. RARE LARGE HOLY LAND EARLY BRONZE AGE BOWL, Large bowl with flat handle, Early Bronze I, c. 3300–3000 BC. The large thin-walled bowl of conical form with flattened base and slightly in turned rim, two large ear shaped handles midway up the sides, a pouring spout one side of the rim. 8 x 12.5 inches. Intact with a few rim chips. To find such very early large Holy Land pottery in a choice intact condition is extremely rare.
9542. LARGE HOLY LAND STORAGE VESSEL. Large storage vessel. Late Bronze Age II-Iron Age I, c. 1200-1100 BC. The large heavy biconical pitcher with ring base, single strap handle and pinched, reinforced pouring spout. 13.5 x 15.5 inches. Intact. The surface with some stalactitic calcite deposits attesting authenticity. To find such very large Holy Land pottery in an intact condition is extremely rare.
9547. LARGE HOLY LAND STORAGE JAR. Krater. Iron Age II, c. 8th century BC. The large heavy piriform vessel with ring base and wide neck and rim, two single strap handles from shoulder to rim. 13 x 14 inches. Age cracks. Rare.
9578. A RARE LARGE HOLY LAND EARLY BRONZE AGE STORAGE JAR, Storage jar, Early Bronze II, 3000-2700 BC. The large jar of oval form with flattened base and everted rim, two thick handles from shoulder to neck. 8 x 9.5 inches. Intact with minor rim chips. Rare.
9579. A RARE LARGE CANAANITE STORAGE JAR, So-called Canaanite jar with two small handles, Late Bronze II, c. 1400–1200 BC. The large jar of oval form with flattened base and everted rim, two thick handles on shoulders. 9.5 x 10.5 inches. Intact with minor rim chips. Rare. A very heavy hard and thick-walled example.
9580. A HOLY LAND EARLY BRONZE AGE STORAGE JAR, Storage jar with two small handles, Early Bronze IV, 2300-2000 BC. The sizable jar of oval form with flattened base and everted rim, two small handles on shoulders. 7 x 7.5 inches. Intact with one rim chip. Rare.
6683. A HOLY LAND BABY FEEDER. Greyish “tea pot” shaped juglet with carination and two looped handles. Probably Middle Bronze Age, NW Iran, c. 1800-1600 BC. The small jug with double handles and nipple spout. 3.3 x 4.6 inches across handles.
HOLY LAND BRONZE ARTIFACTS
9611. AN ANCIENT HOLY LAND BRONZE STAMP SEAL, c. 1st millennium BC. The stamp seal with a clear deep pattern, break to tip of handle. 1 inch in diameter. Rare.
6263. AN ANCIENT HOLY LAND BRONZE BELL. Roman Period. Generally nice condition with clear tone. Iron clapper missing. 2+ inches.
6266. AN ANCIENT HOLY LAND BRONZE BELL. Roman Period. Generally nice condition with clear tone. Iron clapper missing. 2+ inches. Surface decorated with slanted incised lines.
9610. LARGE ANCIENT HOLY LAND CLOAK PIN, c. 1000 BC. The broad head is floral in form with open areas for inlay. 8.5 inches. Rare superior type.
