Late 3rd millennium BC. A bronze stamp seal with animal design, accompanied by a typed and signed note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 53 x 53 x 11.5mm. This is very roughly square, the outer edge reflecting details of the design. The face is in principle flat, but engraved with a detailed design, and much of this design is repeated in relief on the back, in the centre of which there is a raised curling snake as if a handle. The design in intaglio shows in the centre an eagle in heraldic pose: head at the top sideways, body below with wings spread, the eagle resting in the centre of four diagonal areas of big dots which leave four spaces near the outer edge all of which are filled with related motifs: a creature devouring another creature by swallowing its hind parts. In relief on the back the snake replaces the eagle, and the dotted background in much the same. The four pairs of animals are: a lion devouring an ibex, a lioness doing the same, a wold (?) devouring a sheep(?), and two obscure animals. This seal comes from west central Asia and dates to c. 2300-2000 B.C. It is in extremely fine and rare seal, probably unique, and in remarkably good state of preservation. A piece of extreme importance.' 58 grams total, 53mm (2"). The Signo collection, the property of a West London businessman, formed in the late 1980s-early 1990s; collection number A1, academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s. Fine condition.