Circa 3000 B.C. A ceramic pillow-shaped pictographic tablet, inscribed on one face with a seven-panelled pictographic grid, with a branch above the reverse inscribed with a branch and a motif containing two drilled circles. 42 grams, 69 mm (2 3/4 in.). Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992. Thence by descent to family members. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is apanied by AIAD certificate no.11335-190939. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions .]