15th-13th century BC. A ceramic cylinder seal with three lines of decoration; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder Seal of Faience, 22 x 10 mm. The surface is divided into three registers. In the top one is a simple guilloche, in the middle one a row of stylized human hands, in the lower one a criss-cross. This is a Mitanni seal, c. 1500-1200 B.C., from North Mesopotamia, Syria or Palestine'. 2.12 grams, 21mm (3/4"). Property of a London gentleman; part of his family collection since the 1970s. This lot is part of a single collection of cylinder seals which were examined in the 1980s by Professor Lambert and most are accompanied by his own detailed notes; the collection has recently been reviewed by Dr. Ronald Bonewitz.

Fine condition.