The California Museum of Ancient Art is de-accessioning lot # 93 to raise funds for its Ancient Art Acquisition Fund in order to build its growing collections. A nice lot of 5 ancient animal amulets. Lot includes a mixed group of materials and subject matter from the air, water and land - 1). A Sumerian creme marble amulet of a stylized ram, Tel Braq, c. 2500 BC, with two circular rings with central divot on the sides of the body; vertical hole through body for suspension. L: 23mm. (1125). 2). A creme marble head of a canine, Mari, Syria, late 3rd - early 2nd Millennium BC, extremely well-preserved with pointed ears, drilled eyes and original high polished surfaces. 17x13x12mm. (1769). 3). A Near Eastern bronze head of an ibex, c. 1200 - 800 BC, with large eyes and curving horns. Nicely patinated. H: 39mm. (1774). 4). A nice Bactrian shell amulet of a frog, c. 3rd - 2nd Millennium BC, the stylized body with short legs and incised grooves, horizontally holed through the head for suspension. 18 x 12mm. (1585). 5). A neat little rock crystal bird, Parthian/Sasanian, c. 1st - 7th Century AD, with detailed head and wings, very rare. L: 15mm. (0828). A very nice group! Ex-East Coast private collection, acquired between Feb. 1982 and Sept. 1985; Ex-California Museum of Ancient Art, donated 1989. The California Museum of Ancient Art was founded in 1983 to gather the first collection focusing exclusively on the Ancient Near East in Southern California. Representing the geographic regions of Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Levant from approximately 3500 BC to 500 AD, the museum's goal is to tell the stories of the peoples of the Ancient Near East and their cultures and to promote a better appreciation for the roots of Western Civilization. The museum aims to do this in a way that is both historically accurate and user friendly and, most importantly, meaningful to the general public. From the influential peoples of Sumer, Elam, Babylon, Assyria, Hittite Anatolia, Canaan, Philistia, Israel, Judah, and Egypt of the Pharaohs to the beginnings of Rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity, the aim is to bring these ancient peoples to life—actively engaging visitors by allowing the museum's ancient artworks and written texts to tell their amazing stories.
