Naqada is a town on the west bank of the Nile known as Nubt in ancient Egypt. It gave its name to a pre-dynastic culture that existed in this area and other sites, stretching  More »

Naqada is a town on the west bank of the Nile known as Nubt in ancient Egypt. It gave its name to a pre-dynastic culture that existed in this area and other sites, stretching as far south as Nubia. Archaeologists sub-divide the period even further and ‘Naqada II’ refers to items produced c. 3500-3100 BC. During this era (also known as ‘Gerzean’) pottery production increased considerably and innovations in form, colour and technique were introduced. This reflects the increasingly complexity of society and new socio-economic conditions, such as intensified trade with groups from Western Asia. Farming became more intense and although hunting was still important, the lifestyle became more sedentary. The pottery produced in this period is characterised by the use of a pale clay, perhaps pre-worked on a hand wheel. The surface of the clay was left in its natural state and adorned with red-painted motifs of stylised people, animals, ships and geometric designs. Many of these are evocative of the flora and fauna of the Nile Valley. This particular vessel is of globular form with barrel-shaped lug handles and a flat everted rim. The decoration is applied in red-slip on a buff ground and consists of concentric circles interposed with horizontal and vertical wavy lines. Similar vessels have been found in pre- dynastic graves and once held liquids or substances for use in the afterlife. In addition to its historic value, the vessel has a strong aesthetic appeal with its bold, abstract design. (AM) - (SK.027 )   « Less

Elamite Bronze Idol with Raised Arms - LO.1358Origin: Persia Circa: 1200 BCto900 BCDimensions: 7" (17.8cm) high Collection: Near Eastern Art Style:Elamite Medium: Bronze  More »

Elamite Bronze Idol with Raised Arms - LO.1358Origin: Persia Circa: 1200 BCto900 BCDimensions: 7" (17.8cm) high Collection: Near Eastern Art Style:Elamite Medium: Bronze Condition: Extra Fine   « Less

Predynastic Stone Vase - CK.0195 Origin: Egypt Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BC Dimensions: 2.375" (6.0cm) high x 1.625" (4.1cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style:  More »

Predynastic Stone Vase - CK.0195 Origin: Egypt Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BC Dimensions: 2.375" (6.0cm) high x 1.625" (4.1cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Predynastic Medium: Stone   « Less

Oxyrhynchus Fish - RP.229 Origin: Egypt Circa: 3600 BC to 2600 BC Dimensions: 4.75" (12.1cm) high x 1.4" (3.6cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Art Style:  More »

Oxyrhynchus Fish - RP.229 Origin: Egypt Circa: 3600 BC to 2600 BC Dimensions: 4.75" (12.1cm) high x 1.4" (3.6cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Predynastic Medium: Stone   « Less

It seems that the reasons why we war are the only things that have endured in the long history of armed conflict. In every other way, the very meaning of the word war has  More »

It seems that the reasons why we war are the only things that have endured in the long history of armed conflict. In every other way, the very meaning of the word war has drastically shifted over the course of several thousand years. As warrior hoards became structured legions, less and less emphasis was placed upon individual prowess and courage. As spear became musket- the art of battle became nothing more than a commander’s wit and his numbers. The World Wars and the machine gun ushered in the current age of war, in which technology and tactics play the most important roles in combat- number of men and the skill of the soldier taking a back seat. But with great fondness we may recall the intimate and romantic warfare of the Ancients. When the prowess of a warrior meant the food in his belly and the sanctity of his home. When one met eyes with his opponent, and felt the strength of his arm and the speed of his leg in the interconnection of metal. To such soldiers, who knew that their enemy would be in every way involved with them personally- the craft and art of their weapon was just as important as the skill of their body. The grace and infinite beauty of this axe-head stand as a testament to the skill of metallurgists and passion of warrior-artists that lived and came to arms in Bactria over three thousand years ago. The sharp sweep of its rear- blade, the ferocity of the eye that gapes atop its haft- cover, and the supple fluidity of the blade make it a dazzling remnant of some the most romantic battlefields in history. This blade takes us back to a time when men were men and iron was iron. It is so very easy to imagine it blazing through the air- singing a duet of the ripping wind and tanging metal with the blade of an enemy. The soldier who held this was infinitely more involved with his weapon than anything we in the modern world could hope to experience. When ever, has such a beautiful masterwork been so vital to survival? When has an object ever been witness to such displays of heroism and strength on our part? It is rare to see an exhibition of such metallurgical brilliance- and ever more valuable when we consider the brave man who carved out his fortunes, and the fate of empires under its flashing blaze -(LO.1359)Bactrian Bronze Axe Head Circa:1200BCo900BCDimensions:4.75(12.1cm)wide Collection:Near Eastern Art Style:Bactrian Medium: Bronze Condition: Extra Fine   « Less

Egyptian Terracotta Votive Table - FF.088 Origin: Egypt Circa: 2100 BC to 1600 BC Dimensions: 6.5" (16.5cm) high x 6" (15.2cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Old  More »

Egyptian Terracotta Votive Table - FF.088 Origin: Egypt Circa: 2100 BC to 1600 BC Dimensions: 6.5" (16.5cm) high x 6" (15.2cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Old Kingdom Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Luristan bronze is a term referring to a setofancientbronzeartifactsofvariousindividual forms which have been recovered from Luristan and Kermanshahareasinwest-central Iran.  More »

Luristan bronze is a term referring to a setofancientbronzeartifactsofvariousindividual forms which have been recovered from Luristan and Kermanshahareasinwest-central Iran. They include a great number ofweapons,ornaments,tools,andceremonialobjects. Itisnotcertainwhethertheywerecreatedbythe Cimmeriansortheancient Persians-Medes. Typical Luristan style objectsbelongtothe(Iranian)Iron Age(c.1300/1250-650BC).The term "Luristan bronze" isnotnormallyusedtorefertoearlierbronzeartifactsfrom Luristan, datable to a period between the fourth millennium BCE and the (Iranian)Bronze Age (c. 3000/2900-1300/1250 BC), when bronze objects from Luristanweresimilartothose foundin Mesopotamiaandonthe Iranianplateau.BRONZESOFLURISTAN,theaccepted term for a distinct body of metalwork produced in the first half ofthefirstmillennium b.c. and characterized by a wide range of of human and animal representation. These bronzes are to be distinguished from material excavated in Luristan but belonging to earlier periods and from material incorrectly attributed to Luristan. Typical categories of canonical Luristan bronze artifacts in­clude cast animalfinials,standardswithmasters of animals, horse cheekpieces, and harness attachments in the form of naturalistic or fantastic creatures, figured and disc pins, whetstone handles, and bracelets. Among the weapons are swords, daggers, axes, maces, quivers, and halberds. Both casting and Luristan Bronze Horse Bit - LO.1370Origin: Central Asia Circa: 900 BC to 600 BCCollection: Near Eastern Art Style: Luristan Medium: Bronze   « Less

Dimensions: 4.85" (12.3cm) highx3.25"(8.3cm)wide Collection:Near Eastern Art Style: Neolithic Medium: Diorite Condition: Extra Fine

Dimensions: 4.85" (12.3cm) highx3.25"(8.3cm)wide Collection:Near Eastern Art Style: Neolithic Medium: Diorite Condition: Extra Fine   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 2300 BC to 1300 BC Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 3.125" (7.9cm) wide Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: Middle/New Kingdom Medium:  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 2300 BC to 1300 BC Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 3.125" (7.9cm) wide Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: Middle/New Kingdom Medium: Hematite Though it is very ancient, the purity of line in this rare sculpture gives it a remarkably contemporary feel. With just a few simple features, the Egyptian artist has evoked the essence, the eternal spirit of a water bird (almost certainly a duck, since similar duck sculptures are known in faience). How amazing that millennia ago someone could have defined and captured the timeless qualities of nature and expressed them in a way that is as meaningful to the modern age as to the ancient one. FOUND IN SINAI - (PF.0301)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 19 th Century BC Dimensions: 2.75" (7.0cm) high x 3.125" (7.9cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Middle Kingdom Medium: Faience This image of the  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 19 th Century BC Dimensions: 2.75" (7.0cm) high x 3.125" (7.9cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Middle Kingdom Medium: Faience This image of the hippopotamus depicts the heavy, lumbering beast at ease as if it is resting on a bank of the Nile River with its head nestled between its fore-legs. In keeping with ancient Egyptian artistic conventions, the craftsmen have captured the essence of this mammal in a remarkably abstract manner with restrained modeling within a highly modernistic abstract design. Notice how subtly the details of the head are indicated with the slight depression between the eyes and the nostrils in the animal’s snout. Note as well the hieroglyphically designed eyes and their eyebrows. These observations of telling details have not been colored naturalistically because the hippo’s entire body is a turquoise- green in color, and that green surface has been enhanced with the addition floral motifs done in black glaze in a linear, calligraphic style. The turquoise color of the surface and the profusion of floral motifs rendered in black glaze may be taken to symbolize the Nilotic environment in which the hippopotamus lived and prospered. In general the hippopotamus, particularly the male of the species, was regarded by the ancient Egyptians as a representative of chaos because he often trampled and destroyed crops, as this famous passage from a didactic treatise of New Kingdom date reveals, “…Do you not recall the fate of the farmer when the harvest is registered? The worm has taken half the grain, the hippopotamus has devoured the rest…” Furthermore, the hippopotamus would impede travel on the Nile River and was widely feared by the ancient Egyptians because it posed a hazard to all boats trying to navigate waters in which it lived.   « Less