With a tapering honey-coloured piriform body and rimmed mouth, incised circumferential line on the shoulder; accompanied by a display stand. 322 grams, 14 cm high including stand

Ex Charlie Chaplin collection.
Private New York State collection, U.S.A.
Acquired from a North American auction 27 October 2009.
Private collection of Professor Kenneth Graham, London, UK.

Accompanied by the original catalogue page.

Olive-green glazed composition amulet with ribbed panel, flared base; mounted on a custom-made stand. 78 grams total, 12.5 cm high including stand

Ex Phillipps collection, with old labels to verso.
Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.

Cf. similar in the collection of the British Museum under accession no.EA58105.

The djed pillar signifies the concepts of 'permanence' and 'stability' and was a common funerary amulet from the Old Kingdom onwards. It was first associated with the gods Ptah and Sokar, but later became a symbol of Osiris, representing the god's backbone. In this context, the djed pillar appears in Chapter 155 of the Book of the Dead, concerned with the resurrection of the deceased.

Olive-green glazed composition amulet with triad of deities: Isis and Nephthys wearing their usual headdresses, flanking Harpocrates with his side-lock; all three with hands joined; ribbed suspension loop above. 45 grams, 62 mm

Part of an old collection dating back to the 19th century.
Ex property of a gentleman, acquired before the 1980s.
Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.

Cf. Petrie, W.M.F., Amulets. Illustrated by the Egyptian Collection in University College, London, 1914, pl.XXVII, no.152b, for a similar example.

With tapering sides and pointed top, incised vertical column of hieroglyphic text to one face: ẖry-ḥbt ḳbḥ ḥtp mr-mšꜥ imn, ''lector-priest' (give) purified offering (to the) general of the army (of) Amun'; mounted on a custom-made stand. 444 grams total, 21 cm high

Acquired in Egypt in the early 20th century.
Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.

Cf. similar in the collection of the British Museum under accession no.EA495.

In ancient Egypt, it was common for small obelisks like this one to be placed on either side of the entrance to private tombs. Typically inscribed on one side only, these obelisks held great solar religious significance and were closely associated with the cult of the sun-god Re. They symbolised the ancient Egyptians' belief in the rebirth of the deceased, with the moment of revivification being characterised by the individual's face being illuminated by the rays of the rising sun. It was said that, at that moment, the deceased was able to "open their sight to see the sun-god," as one religious text explains.

A section of tomb wall with a central register of eight rectangular panels each containing hieroglyphs naming offerings for the deceased; the top and bottom groups of eight rectangular panels each contain a depiction of a kneeling offering-bearer; all carved in high-relief; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 40 kg total, 74 cm wide

North American gallery, 1981-1990s.
with Pierre Bergé & Associés, Paris, France, 1st December 2007, lot 384.
London collection, 2016.

Accompanied by an academic report by Egyptologist Paul Whelan.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11942-209839.

Cf. Paget, R.F.E. and Pirie, A.A., The Tomb of Ptah-hetep, ERA II, London, 1898, pl.XLI, for a similar offering list.

Carved in the round with separate articulated arms, painted facial details and wearing a short linen kilt; slightly bent posture, feet pegged to a rectangular base; wooden implement for beating flax in the left hand. 140 grams, 23 cm high

From an early 20th century collection.
Ex UK collection.
Ex Ancient Art, London N14, UK.
Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.

Accompanied by a previous dealer's certificate of authenticity.

See Taylor, J.H., Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt, London, 2001, for discussion of the tomb figurines.

Striding on a rectangular base, wearing a belted kilt, bag wig and with short beard; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 19 grams total, 11 cm high including stand

Part of an old collection dating back to the 19th century.
Ex property of a gentleman, acquired before the 1980s.
Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.

Cf. similar in the collection of the British Museum under accession no.EA55722, the nude figure of Meryrahashtef.

With loops to the rim and short chains hanging from a hook finial; upper register with solar barque; the body with figure of priapic god Amun-Min and offerant before an offering table; lotus-flower motif to the base; mounted on a custom-made stand. 129 grams total, 24.5 cm high including stand

Ex S.M. collection, Israel.
Ex Ancient Art, London N14, UK.
Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.

Accompanied by a previous dealer's certificate of authenticity.

Cf. similar item in considerably worse condition in the collection of the British Museum under accession no.1881,0830.519.

With frontal uraeus, holding the crook and flail in his hands; mounted on a custom-made stand. 70 grams total, 15.2 cm high including stand

Old Dutch collection, acquired prior to 1985.
Ex Netherlands ancient art gallery.
Ex Artemission, London SW5, UK.
Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.

Accompanied by a previous dealer's certificate of authenticity and invoice.

Cf. Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, item 12(d).

Osiris is a deity who represents both death and fertility and is commonly regarded as the quintessential god of rebirth. Though he was once a mortal ruler, as a deceased entity his domain was the Underworld. Abydos was the primary centre of Osiris’ cult, where a renowned yearly celebration of the god was held. Statues of Osiris were dedicated at temples throughout Egypt to ensure the god's protection and blessings.

Standing before an enigmatic balloon-like object on a rectangular base with two supports flanking a short shank; mounted on a custom-made stand. 377 grams total, 12.5 cm high including stand

Believed to have been collected (1899-1914) and in an early 20th century collection, with some references to Psamtik I, and a German funded expedition.
Ex Ludwig Borchardt, Heliop.
Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.

Accompanied by a handwritten note from Ludwig Borchardt.

Cf. Tiribilli, E., The bronze figurines of the Petrie Museum from 2000 BC to AD 400, GHP Egyptology 28, London, 2018, p.184, cat.no.259, for a less elaborate Wepwawet standard terminal.

Wepwawet, the canine god, is strongly linked with Abydos and kingship. His name means 'Opener of the Ways' and may have had military connotations as someone who clears the path for his king. In funerary texts, Wepwawet guided the dead through the Underworld. The image of the god on a standard, as seen in this example, was carried in processions associated with Osiris and kingship. The balloon-like object, known as shed-shed, is mysterious but may have symbolised the royal placenta, which was considered the king's 'double'.

With painted detailing to the eyebrows, eyes and headband; flesh coloured pigment remaining on the nose and forehead; prominent nose and small mouth; pierced through the chin and forehead to accept attachment dowels. 223 grams, 18.5 cm high

Acquired 1970s-1996.
Property of a North American collector.
London collection, 2016.

See Taylor, J.H., Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt, London, 2001, for discussion.

Carved in the half-round with elegant nose and prominent chin, full lips and rounded cheeks; a headband resting on the forehead; an attachment dowel on the chin and forehead. 475 grams, 23 cm high

Acquired 1970s-1996.
Property of a North American collector.
London collection, 2016.

See Taylor, J.H., Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt, London, 2001, for discussion.