GOLD AND ENAMEL ASSYRIAN REVIVAL BROOCH, CIRCA 1873

Centring on a human-headed winged bull, within a bead and rope work frame, decorated with white and red enamel, glazed compartment to reverse and engraved Hadden 1873.

Cf: Ed.A.Kenneth Snowman, The Master Jewellers, London, 1990, page 144 for an example of an Assyrian Revival necklace by Ernest Vever, exhibited at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1878.

Few red enamel details chipped and few deficient. Traces of dirt and slight tarnishing, could benefit from a careful professional clean. Glazed compartment to reverse opens. Scratches and indentations to reverse consistent with age and wear. Pin fitting a little bent and stiff. In good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Please note that colour, clarity and weight of gemstones are statements of opinion only and not statements of fact by Sotheby's. We do not guarantee, and are not responsible for any certificate from a gemological laboratory that may accompany the property. We do not guarantee that watches are in working order. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue, in particular to the Notice regarding the treatment and condition of gemstones and to the Notice regarding import of Burmese jadeite and rubies into the US.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Shedu is a celestial being from Mesopotamian mythology. He is a human from the waist up with the horns and ears of a bull and a bull below the waist.  Appearing frequently in art sometimes with wings, statues of the Shedu were often used as gatekeepers.  In the British Museum is a pair of colossal human-headed winged bulls that once guarded an entrance to the citadel of the Assyrian king Sargon II (721-705 BC). Late in his reign Sargon built himself a new capital city, which he called Dur-Sharrukin ('the fortress of Sargon'), known today as Khorsabad.