2nd millennium BC. A silver finger ring with flat-section hoop, expanding at the shoulders, decorated with a heraldic design; apanied by a meum-quality impression and a typed and signed scholarly note issued by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Ancient Silver Finger Ring. This was made from a strip of sheet silver, bent to a circle and embossed and engraved. It deepens away from the join. In the centre of the design is a stylized sacred tree with central stem, two cotyledons and seven buds around the crown, and other details. To each side of the tree is an approaching bull, the one on the separated by a maltese cross, the one on the left separated by a rhomb. At each end of the strip is a kind of trefoil. The whole design is enclosed within upper and lower rulings. This is a Middle Assyrian ring, c.1400-1100 B.C. It is deeply and finely engraved and in remarkably good condition for ancient silver. Rings of this kind and quality are rare. It was probably ed as a ring-seal.' 25.76 grams, 30.45mm overall, 25.54mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z+3, A 13 3/4, Europe 32.57, Japan 31) (1 1/4"). Private English collection since the late 1970s-early 1980s. Christie's, London, 29 April 2010, lot 276. Apanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993. Apanied by copies of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is apanied by AIAD certificate number no.10371-168776. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions .]