Description:

Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Sumer, Third Dynasty of Ur, ca. 2094 to 2047 BCE. An ancient cuneiform pottery tablet, displayed in a superb, custom-made leather book shaped case crafted by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. The leather case has a spine gilt-stamped with the inscription: "Inscribed Babylonian Tablet of the Time of Shulgi, King of Ur, 2250 BCE" - please note that the year on the spine might be inaccurate. The tablet itself is a thick rectangular piece inscribed with cuneiform script in the Sumerian language. It details an offering of 1 ox, 8 sheep, and 2 goats made by a "Shulgi-Simti" to a temple, dated to the 45th year of Shulgi, King of Ur, which would correspond to 2043 / 2042 BCE, if translated correctly. The piece includes a printed fragment from an old British auction catalog that references the description of two similar tablets; the relevant entry for this tablet starts with the number 8 and provided the partial translation of the tablet. Size of tablet: 1.26" L x 1.12" W (3.2 cm x 2.8 cm); book: 4.5" L x 1.5" W x 6" H (11.4 cm x 3.8 cm x 15.2 cm)

Inside the case on the left edge is the stamped "Made by Sangorski & Sutcliffe London." Sangorski & Sutcliffe are a renowned luxury bookbinding company established in London in 1901, known for their exquisite, artistic bindings including jewel and gold encrusted covers. The interior of the case is lined with plush velvet cushions that securely hold the tablet, and the cover is fastened with an elegant brass push clasp. The exceptional presentation of this tablet in a Sangorski & Sutcliffe case emphasizes its historical significance, juxtaposing the humble origins of the ancient written script with the luxurious craftsmanship of 20th-century bookbinding.

Provenance: ex-San Francisco, California, USA collection

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#188836

  • Condition: Tablet is intact and excellent. Displayed in a custom leather bound case by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Some staining to leather and discoloration, but overall excellent. Included catalog page fragment is from an unknown catalog and has tears and creases.

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September 13, 2024 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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