Holy Land. Bronze Age, c. 1500 - 1000 BC. Nice bronze socketed spear head. Long mid-rib and short socket. Still very sharp, with narrow blades from weathering and re-sharpening in antiquity. Nice brown "river" patina. Petrified wood remains inside the socket! Measures over 9 1/2" long. Very very cool. Ex-Midwest USA museum deaccession. #WP2007x2: $350 SOLD
Holy Land. Bronze Age, 1st millennium BC. Bronze dagger blade. Narrow blade with midrib, the tang short with a hole for the attachment of a handle. 197 mm (7 3/4") long. Intact with nice red to green patina, some earthen deposits. Ex-Midwest USA museum deaccession. #WP2006x2: $275 SOLD
Holy Land. Canaanite, c. 1200 BC. Superb and huge Canaanite ceramic face of a deity, from Jaffa, Israel. With large angular nose, large deep-set eyes and narrow mouth, the backside concave with flat border. A nice example with well-preserved red-slip and attractive deposits. Old collection numbers on the backside. 61x58 mm (2 7/16" x 2 1/4"). Mounted on custom stand. Lovely red color. Ex Archaeology Center, Tel-Aviv. Rare! #AH2075: $750 SOLD
Holy Land. Canaanite, c. 1000-500 BC. Attractive terracotta fertility figure. Depicted wearing a headdress and gown, right hand on her breast, left hand on her belly. Frontally molded with good detail and light deposits. Fingerprints of the ancient maker still clearly visible on back! H: 4" (102 mm). Ex New York private antiquities collection. #AH2072: $399 SOLD
Time of Biblical Abraham!
Fine cuneiform tablet from the collection of Ernest Freemark (1882-1966), collected between 1913 - 1915
Sumerian, Ur Dynasty, from Umma, 2111 BC. Exquisite small cuneiform tablet. A Messenger Text, standard format listing quantities of beer, bread, oil, potash, garlic for “messengers” (couriers) who travelled among cities delivering offical goods and messages. The individuals named here are: Shu-Ishtar, Gi-nu-lum, x […..], and Ur-Sin. Month 7, the 4th day, Year Shu-Sin 3. Shu-Ishtar, Gi-nu-lum, x […..] and Ur-Sin). Month 7, the 4th day, Year Shu-Sin 3, from Umma. Beautiful surfaces with extremely fine, small cuneiform text. Measures 24x21x8 mm (7/8" x 13/16" x 5/16"). A mini masterpiece! Freemark reference #6 with his numbered tag inked on edge. Also included is Mr. Freemark’s handwritten envelope reading “No. 6 Sumerian Cuneiform Tablet 2117 BC Ur Dynasty, Time of Abraham." From the collection of Ernest Freemark (1882-1966), collected between 1913 and 1915; ex-R. Knickerbocker collection, New York, by descent (the famous Knickerbocker family of New York). Comes with a full copy of the envelope, letter, and identifications provided. This includes: Letter from the University of Michigan, dated April 29, 1952, from George G. Cameron, Chairman, Department of Near Eastern Studies. "Cuneiform Documents in the possession of E.C. Freemark, Elmore, Ohio." "The tablets were all rebaked and translated by Albrecht Goetze of Yale University". #AP2065: $950 SOLD
Holy Land / Levant, c. 1st Millennium BC. Excellent bronze figurine of a humped bull. With great form, dark olive-green patina with light deposits. Small hole on bottom where it was once affixed to a stand. L: 3.9 cm (1 1/2"). #AP2401: $250 SOLD
Ancient Holy Land (Palestine), c. 3000 BC. An early mace-head amulet with four knobs, copying 5,000-year-old weapons of war. Well-carved in a crème marble, the tall handle with horizontal hole for suspension. 19 mm x 14 mm x 8.5mm. Mottled deposits and light weathering. Ex-East Coast private collection, acquired between Aug. 1980 and Aug. 1983; Ex-California Museum of Ancient Art, donated 1989 (acc. #0021). #AP2380: $350 SOLD
Holy Land. Roman period, early 1st century AD. Great bronze fish hook! H: 35mm (1 3/8"), olive-green patina with earthen deposits. Directly relates to the Bible, Matthew chapter 4:19... as Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee he sees Simon and his brother Andrew. "Come follow Me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men." Ex-David Liebert, The Time Machine, New York. #AH2275: $199 SOLD
Holy Land. Roman period, early 1st century AD. Great bronze fish hook! H: 36mm (1 1/2"), olive-green patina with earthen deposits. Directly relates to the Bible, Matthew chapter 4:19... as Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee he sees Simon and his brother Andrew. "Come follow Me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men." Ex-David Liebert, The Time Machine, New York. #AH2282: $199 SOLD
Holy Land, c. 2nd Millennium BC. A bronze open-work cylindrical pendant with suspension loop at top. Deep olive-green patina, earthen deposits. L: 34mm. Perhaps once held within a small object of significance. Rare! Ex East Coast private collection; Ex California Museum of Ancient Art, acquired 1989. #AP2399: $175 SOLD
Holy Land, c. 2nd Millennium BC. A lovely mother of pearl amulet in the form of a stylized human figure. Lovely iridescent silvery-blue color, suspension loop at one end. L: 31mm. Rare! Ex East Coast private collection; Ex California Museum of Ancient Art, acquired 1989. #AP2398: $250 SOLD
Holy Land. Old Testament Period. Iron Age III, c. 800 - 586 BC. A rare Iron Age grey stone cosmetic bowl, of thick construction with narrow flattened base and wide flat rim decorated with incised hatched bands and circles around a central rounded bowl. W: 4 3/8 in (11 cm). Light deposits. Ex Avraham Halbersberg estate; Ex Clark collection, Santa Barbara. #AH2417: $450 SOLD
Canaanite, c. 1700 - 1630 BC. Excellent glazed steatite scarab. The base engraved with a central cartouche (oval) enclosing signs for luck and good tidings, above and below addorsed red crowns flanking 'en-ra' formula. L: 19mm. Ex Rilling collection, Orange County, CA. #AE3111: $399 SOLD
"Star of Bethlehem" - An Incredibly Fine Example!
Roman Provincial, under emperor Augustus. Autonomous bronze coin struck Actian Year 44 (13/14 AD) at Antioch, Syria, under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus Silanus as Governor of Syria. Laureate head of Zeus right / Ram running right, looking back, star above, Date DM below; ANTIOX-E-WN MHTPO-POLEWS. 20mm, 7.67 g. ref: McAlee 99; RPC I 4269 for type. Struck at Antioch, which was one of the centers of early Christianity, and the ram symbolized Judaea and its posture symbolized regnal divinity. Orangish earthen dark green patina. VF. From the Thomas B. Lesure Collection. Ex Ponterio 108 (1 August 2000), lot 213; Ex Classical Numismatic Group (CNG). #CR3269: $450 SOLD
Canaanite, c. 1700 - 1630 BC. Steatite scarab, on base two columns of symmetric signs. L: 16mm, silvery-white tone, stunning contrast. A beauty! Ex Rilling collection, Orange County, CA. #AE3110: $399 SOLD
Canaanite, c. 1700 - 1630 BC. Great steatite scarab. A finely-incised antelope on the base. L: 18mm. Ex Malter galleries, Encino, CA. #AE3256: $399 SOLD
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Ancient Holy Land, Levantine, c. 1st Millennium BC. Nice bronze amuletic male figure. Depicts a man wearing long robes, his right hand to his face in the manner of Harpokrates, left hand behind his base. Intact with suspension loop at back. L: 27mm. Ex Joel L. Malter private collection. #AP2023: $250 SOLD
Ancient Syria, c. 3rd - 5th Century AD. Small stone amuletic male figure. Made of black serpentine, in a stylized form of a cloaked bearded man in contemplative pose. L: 25mm. Drilled for suspension. Ex Joel L. Malter private collection. #AP2022: $125 SOLD
Holy Land. Canaanite, c. 1200 - 600 BC. A beautiful bust from a terracotta fertility goddess. Frontally molded with detailed features, wearing a tall headdress, necklaces, earrings and clutching a tablet to her breast. H: 1 5/8" (4.2 cm). Light deposits, mounted on a wide, metal disk base. Ex Wiltshire, UK private collection: From the estate of Amold Walter Lawrence, 1900-1991, younger brother of TE Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia"). Historian who participated in, among others, the excavation of UR. Collected prior to WWII. #AP2119: $599 SOLD
Holy Land, c. 2nd-1st millennium BC. A huge rectangular alabaster stone bead with a central hole. A massive 44 mm (1 3/4") across and very thick and heavy! Clear white iridescent surfaces. ex-Los Angeles, CA collection. #AB2021: $99 SOLD
Star of David?
Holy Land, c. 1000 BC. Fantastic hematite cylinder seal with a 6 pointed star! Undrilled with central depressions on either side for mounting into a handle or similar, and depicting a stylized seated figure amongst stylized animals and cult objects, a six-pointed star at center. Made right around the time of Biblical King David (c. 1010-970 BCE). 13 x 16mm. Ex Robert Wilson Collection, acquired in Beirut in 1967. RARE! #AP2267: $950 SOLD
Holy Land, c. 325-638 AD. Great bronze cross pendant. The round area in the center once likely held a stone or glass inlay. H: 37 mm (1 7/16"), with olive-green patina and heavy earthen deposits, large suspension loop. Found in Israel! ex-Jerusalem, Israel gallery. Rare! #JM2287: $250 SOLD
Holy Land, c. 2nd Millennium BC. Great crème marble cylinder seal. Depicts two standing men holding long spears, all within a dotted border. H: 2.9 cm. Ex Wiltshire, UK private collection. #AH2228: $550 SOLD
Holy Land. Canaanite, Late 2nd Millennium BC. Nice black chlorite cylinder seal. Engraved with a standing figure with other stylized figures & two rows of dots. Nice stone, good patina, light deposits. Cf. Marcopoli 662. ref: L 1.93cm. Well worn from ancient use! Ex California Museum of Ancient Art De-Accession (Inv. #CS5016), acquired in 1989. Comes with museum-quality rollout. #AP2230: $399 SOLD
Holy Land. Roman period, 1st - 3rd Century AD. Large terracotta plaque with a facing bull's head. Depicted filleted, with the noseband from the harness visible. Nicely detailed with suspension hole at top. 2 3/8 in x 2 1/8 in (6 x 5.4 cm). Light deposits. Ex David Liebert, Time Machine, NY. #AH2274: $325 SOLD
Holy Land. Roman period, c. 1st-3rd century AD. Cute little bronze frog amulet! L: 2 cm (3/4"), suspension loop intact and strong. Olive-green patina, reddish earthen deposits. In the ancient Near East the frog was a symbol of fertility. In the season after the Nile flooded, the fields in the Nile Delta were extremely fertile. At the same time, and also due to the floods, there was a large abundance of frogs. Because of this, the ancients associated the frogs as a symbol of fertility. Accompanied by a photo-authenticity receipt signed by David Hendin, author of Guide to Biblical Coins. #AH2281: $250 SOLD
Holy Land! Ancient Samaria, Judaea, c. 7th century AD. Fantastic and very rare small bronze cross ring worn by an early Christian in the Holy Land! The bezel an ornate "Latin" cross, the ring diameter is just 16 mm, about a US size 1 1/2. Olive-green patina, heavy earthen deposits. ex-Jerusalem, Israel collection. #JR2293: $350 SOLD
Holy Land or Anatolia, c. 2nd-1st millennium BC. Huge black stone ribbed cylindrical pendant. H: 5.37 cm. Provenance: From a major New York collection before 1989; Ex California Museum of Ancient Art Deaccession (acc. #0013). #AP2443: $275 SOLD
Holy Land. Canaanite, c. 1200 - 1000 BC. A small black chlorite cylinder seal, depicting a pair of seated figures facing one another. L: 1.35cm. Rollout not included but I can include a bit of clay for you to roll it out on. Ex California Museum of Art De-Accession, originally donated to the museum in 1989. #AP2232: $399 SOLD
Canaanite, c. 1630 - 1500 BC. Neat steatite scarab. The base engraved with a human-headed sphinx. L: 14mm. Likely was worn as part of a finger ring in antiquity. Ex Rilling collection, Orange County, CA. #AE3090: $350 SOLD
Ancient Holy Land, Levant. Old Testament period, c. 2nd Millennium BC. Long carnelian cylinder seal, with standing figures and animals, a vertigal register of pseudo-glyphs between, and five-pointed star or pentagram above. L: 38mm. With museum-quality rollout. Ex Seward Kennedy collection. #AP2551: $550 SOLD
Canaanite, c. 1630 - 1570 BC. Excellent steatite scarab. The base engraved with a beautiful rosette pattern. L: 18mm. Ex Malter galleries, Encino, CA. #AE3258: $499 SOLD
Ancient Aramaic Graffiti!
Athens, Attica, Ancient Greece, c. 454-404 BC. Large silver Tetradrachm, hand-scrawled Aramaic writing on the front! Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent to left; ΑΘΕ, all within incuse square. 22.5mm, 17.03 g. ref: Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597 for type. Ancient bankers' countermarks and test cuts. Aramaic graffiti on obverse! So rare with Aramaic script like this. Ex CNG. #CG2689: $1500 SOLD
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Holy Land, c. 1st century BC - 1st Century AD. Large iron fishing-hook! Found outside Galilee, Israel. Ex-Los Angeles, CA private collection. 81 mm (3 1/4") long! #AR2051x2: $225 SOLD
Holy Land. Canaanite, c. 1550 - 1200 BC. Rare Canaanite faience cylinder seal depicting a horned goat looking back at a large altar. L: 20 mm. Intact with light white coloration, some traces of blue. Minor edge chipping. Ex Los Angeles private collection. #AH2069: $450 SOLD
Holy Land, c. 1st Millennium BC. A charming calcite votive statuette depicting a standing couple, both wearing dress-like costume and clasping hands, the woman clutching a small bag which is suspended by a strap. An interesting piece, the figures with almond-shaped eyes, the woman's hair tied with a fillet. On integral base with stylized script across the front and vertical lines on the back. Stands 6" (15.2 cm) tall. Ex Joseph C. Morton collection. Fabulous! #AH2067: $1200 SOLD
Holy Land. Canaanite, c. 1200 BC. Great Canaanite ceramic face of a deity, from Jaffa, Israel. With hand-modeled features: large angular nose, heavy brow ridges, pierced ear and a narrow chin. Heavy mineral deposits throughout. 1 1/2" (38 mm). Mounted on custom stand. Ex Archaeology Center, Tel-Aviv. #AH2076: $650 SOLD
Holy Land, c. 5th-7th Century AD. Fantastic and enigmatic HUGE carved triangular ceramic pendant. One side incised with a horseman facing right, flanked by stars, horizontal line above. The other side with an uncertain design. Large suspension hole through the top. Some surface wear and deposits. Worthy of further study! H: 2 1/4" (5.6cm). Ex-New York City private collection. #AP2142: $475 SOLD
Ancient Holy Land, c. 1st millennium BC. Nice carnelian bead. Measures 12 mm (7/16"). with nice color and lighter swirling veins. ex-Los Angeles, CA private collection. #AP2281: $60 SOLD
Roman fishing-net tool with Biblical relevance!
Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Bronze fishing-net mending tool, the same type used by Jesus’ disciples. Similar tools found near Galilee, Israel. See Matthew:4 in the New Testament, Verses 18 to 22 describe the calling of the first four fishermen, who become his first disciples: two, Simon Peter and Andrew, were casting a net into the sea, and two, James, and John, working with Zebedee their father, were repairing their nets. The disciples abandon possessions and family to be what Jesus calls "fishers of men". For type, cf. Mendel Nun, "The Sea of Galilee and its Fishermen in the New Testament" p. 31. 12.5 cm (4 7/8”) long with nice light olive-green patina. ex-Santa Barbara County, CA scholastic collection. #AR2802: $250 SOLD
Holy Land, c. 1st Millennium BC. Fantastic terracotta pendant depicting a musician! Oval in shape, the front bearing the impression from an intaglio, depicting a seated figure facing right, both hands outstretched, playing a lyre or other musical instrument; suspension loop at top. A depiction that has been compared to King David! And dating from his time. 27 x 20mm. Light deposits. Ex-East Coast private collection; Ex-California Museum of Ancient Art, donated 1989. (0008). De-accessioned to raise funds for its Ancient Art Acquisition Fund in order to build its growing collections. #AP2264: $325 SOLD
Holy Land. Bulla of the True Cross. An incredible and very rare ancient holy relic! A terracotta token showing the busts of Saints Peter and Paul either side of the Cross. Date: Circa 625 AD. Size: 20.28 mm. 2.21 grams. Condition: Intact with natural find patina. Much clearer representations on the obverse than usual for the type. From the original find that came Baldwins in London circa 1993. Provenance: The original find was purchased by Baldwins in London circa 1993. There were two main types in the find: the type shown here and a smaller group showing piece of a different type showing legend around the cross. An example of the second type is in the British Museum collection. Mitchiner devotes a full page to the examples in his collection. During the war between the Byzantine and Sassanian Empires during 7th Century AD, Khusru II captured Jerusalem and took the true cross as spoils of war. Taken back to Persia it was regained by Heraclius and taken to Constantinople and then across Asia minor back to its resting place at Jerusalem. During its return travel legend has it that a piece of the cross was taken and burned , the ashes were then mixed with clay and tokens were made commemorating the return of the true cross to Jerusalem. The tokens show an impression of the true cross with the heads of St Peter and St Paul in the angles of the cross. Reference: Mitchiner 1062-70; cf. Pilgrimage: Becket to Elvis, 1995, no. 82. Ex Baldwin's in 1980's. #AH2283: $675 SOLD
Holy Land, 1st millennium BC. Fantastic and very rare carved bone head of an ibex. Shown in profile looking left, with nicely incised features, long curved horn. W: 25 mm (1 inch) with nice brown patina. Ex-David Liebert, The Time Machine, New York. #AH2273: $299 SOLD
Holy Land. Bulla of the True Cross. An incredible and very rare ancient holy relic! A terracotta token showing the busts of Saints Peter and Paul either side of the Cross. Date: Circa 625 AD. Size: 17 mm. 1.62 grams. Condition: Intact with deep reddish-brown color. Much clearer representations on the obverse than usual for the type. Provenance: The original find was purchased by Baldwins in London circa 1993. There were two main types in the find: the type shown here and a smaller group showing piece of a different type showing legend around the cross. An example of the second type is in the British Museum collection. Mitchiner devotes a full page to the examples in his collection. During the war between the Byzantine and Sassanian Empires during 7th Century AD, Khusru II captured Jerusalem and took the true cross as spoils of war. Taken back to Persia it was regained by Heraclius and taken to Constantinople and then across Asia minor back to its resting place at Jerusalem. During its return travel legend has it that a piece of the cross was taken and burned, the ashes were then mixed with clay and tokens were made commemorating the return of the true cross to Jerusalem. The tokens show an impression of the true cross with the heads of St Peter and St Paul in the angles of the cross. Reference: Mitchiner 1062-70; cf. Pilgrimage: Becket to Elvis, 1995, no. 82. Ex Baldwin's in 1990's; ex-David Liebert, The Time Machine, NY. #AH2297: $675
SOLD - Alternate available!
Canaanite, c. 1630 - 1500 BC. Neat steatite scarab. The base engraved with signs for luck and prosperity including a gold sign, red crowns and Horus falcons flanking a central kheper (scarab beetle). L: 17mm. Gorgeous bone color, glossy surfaces. Nice high-arched body and well-defined legs reminiscent of New Kingdom Egyptian types. Ex Rilling collection, Orange County, CA. #AE3088: $375 SOLD
Fragment of the True Cross of Jesus Christ!
Once in a lifetime does something like this come along. An 1800's century glass case with Papal seal in wax. Original antique S. Crucis D.N.I. (very tiny) true cross of Christ fragment religious relic in original brass and silver reliquary case with original sealed glass and un-touched cross over shield stamped wax seal on back with original threads still attached. Also hand-written notations on back with the number 26.256 is Elenchi (lists in English) as well as some other words. It measures 1.60” across widest point and 1 ½” across the brass section and is .56” tall. Glass is scratch free. Ex Nashua, New Hampshire collection. #AH2386: $2500 SOLD
Canaanite, c. 1630 - 1500 BC. Excellent large steatite scarab, the base engraved with an elaborate geometric design, a palm frond carved into the back. Set onto a custom .925 silver pendant hanger. Scarab L: 21mm, entire pendant measures 34mm. A really wonderful piece! Ex Epshtein collection, Berkeley, CA. #AE3201: $499 SOLD
Holy Land (Levantine), c. 8th-7th Century BC. Old Testament Israelite period. Exceptional large deep green jasper scarab, the base engraved with a standing figure before a star & sedge. With custom black wood stand and green scarab impression originally made for the scarab to sit upon prior to being hung on the silver hanger. Set onto a custom .925 silver pendant hanger. Scarab L: 18mm, entire pendant measures 30mm. Ex London, UK gallery collection. #AE3293: $550 SOLD
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