Achaemenid Gold Clad Silver Birds Pendant. 6th-4th century BC. A silver pendant shaped as birds with large bodies and small heads, pierced beads for eyes, the main cells filled with bitumen(?) and clad with sheet-gold, a stone(?) insert between; viewed 'upside down', the gold bodies alone also form two stylised facing birds, with incised detailing to the neck, breast and tails; tubular bead above for suspension.19.9 grams, 71mm (2 3/4"). From a private family collection formed in London from the mid 1980s-early 1990s; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10662-174193.