Description:

Central Asia, Bactrian (BMAC) culture, ca. late 3rd to early 2nd millennium BCE. A round, thin, solid lead disc with an openwork interior featuring six stepped diamond forms and a rounded opening to serve as a handle, made to be a weight, probably to hold down the edge of a nomad's large tent. The example of a similar item from Christie's (see below) has a hide handle stitched in place around the edge of its rounded opening and the edge of the disc. Ancient lead mainly appears as a biproduct of silver, and its primary use in the ancient world until Roman times was to make weights. The ornate form of this weight looks similar to the form of a lead stamp seal at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (https://metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/30005506?rpp=20&pg=1&rndkey=20130516&ft=*&deptids=3&what=Copper&pos=8). The pretty, ornate form of this weight indicates that it was used to signify wealth - whoever used it had an important role in society. Size: 10.65" W x 0.75" H (27.1 cm x 1.9 cm)

A similar, but slightly smaller, lead weight sold at Christie's in 2002 for $8365 USD: https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-bactrian-lead-weight-circa-late-3rd-early-4026206-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4026206&sid=5b6dac59-f09d-4058-b512-1085b451da3e

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-collection of Mr. Tomatsu Miura, Japan, collected in the 1980s

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#143552

  • Condition: Intact, with heavily encrusted and patinated surface.

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February 21, 2019 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000