Hi Rhosyn (unusual and striking name, Welsh?).
Now the wee figurines are actual figures depicting each of the Major Arcana (RWS), (think Monopoly tokens) about an inch and a half tall. I seem to remember a thread about them here on AT. I understand an individual figure is being released each month. The name of the sculptor eludes me, but they appear to be fully formed but unpainted. If you search for either Tarosophy or Tarosophy Association, you should get to their website which should have information.
As to the Elamites; that's a bit harder. My knowledge is peripheral to my own studies in Egyptology and consists of mostly (rather dry) academic texts (mainly French language) and one memorable lecture by a visiting Iranian archeologist to my Uni. I just checked the Wikipedia entry, and it's not to bad. The references at the end of the article are sound although may be a bit overkill for a general introduction. Any good basic history book, focusing on the late Bronze Age will include the Elam, or indeed, a history of Ancient Persia, or Mesopotamia (look for the Southern region) should make mention of them. If it helps, the Elamites were heavily influenced by the Babylonians and it is believed their culture developed along similar lines. Part of the problem in studying them is so little of them survive and what does lies in Iran and Iraq, which I'm sure you know, is a difficult place for archeologists and historians to work. What has been discovered is more often than not reported and written about in French (they alone among the West have endeavoured to retain academic links and to this day fund digs and research in Iran).
Back to the Rose-key ... the Chevalier & Gheerbrandt Dictionary of Symbols, or the Cirlot Dictionary of Symbols, and if you can bear it The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism publication The Book of Symbols, all have good sections on the Rose, the key and whatnot that may interest you. Alchemists have used the Rose as a symbol for all manner of alchemical ideas, with the colour and number of petals being the 'key' or legend to what is being referred too. Manly Hall's Secret Teachings of All Ages will give you a good grounding in the various forms of alchemy and it discusses some of the symbolism at length (and in some very flowery language!).
Hope that helps.
