Solid cast mummiform figure standing on an integral plinth; the god cloaked in a tight-fitting shroud, sporting the ostrich-plumed atef crown with uraeus, divine beard, and holding the characteristic crook and flail regalia; traces of gilding remain; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 811 grams total, 21 cm including stand

Private collection, 19th century, thence by descent.
Private collection, Neuchâtel.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12195-222135.

Cf. Roeder, G., Ägyptische Bronzefiguren II, Berlin, 1956, pl. 22e, for similar figurine.

Osiris is a deity who represents 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’s cult, where a renowned yearly celebration of the god was held.

Stylised ostrich plume surmounting a ram's horn, uraeus with sun disk to one side; side tang and loop on the underside for attachment; the plume decorated with a series of narrow horizontal recesses to accept inlays, with some original remaining as well as later replacements in blue glass. 244 grams total, 18.5 cm

UK private collection of Werner Forman (1921-2010), formed between 1950-1980.

Cf. Tiribilli, E., The bronze figurines of the Petrie Museum from 2000 BC to AD 400, GHP Egyptology 28, London, 2018, p.289, cat. no.461, for a comparable element.

The atef crown consists of a central element similar to the hedjet or White Crown, flanked by two ostrich feathers, often with a pair of ram's horns beneath and uraei on either side. The meaning of atef is uncertain, but it may mean either 'his might' or 'his terror'. The crown first appeared in the 5th Dynasty and is particularly associated with the underworld god Osiris.

Naturalistically carved ibis head from a composite statuette, with carefully detailed beak and eyes; traces of gesso and gilding remain; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 116 grams total, 18.5 cm wide

American private collection, New York, acquired in London before 2000.

Cf. Waziry, M., Vestiges of Ancient Egypt,The Bubasteion Votive Cachette at Saqqara, Houston, 2023, pp.110-11, no. 48, for a complete example showing the wooden rod supporting the back of the head.

The ibis was sacred to the god Thoth, who was revered for his association with knowledge, writing, and healing. The god also acted as the recorder of the final judgment, which determined whether the deceased had lived a life of virtue. Vast numbers of ibises were mummified in religious centres such as Saqqara and Tuna el-Gebel, where they were offerings to the god and interred in extensive catacombs.

Rectangular panel carved in sunk relief with vertical borders framing a portion of hieroglyphic inscription ...ḥry sštꜢ n..., '...keeper of secrets of...'. 6.79 kg total, 50.5 cm high including stand

Reputedly acquired by a private collector in 1936.
Ex Ian Colverson Collection, UK (1940-2022).

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12196-222436.

Cf. Simpson, W.K., The Offering Chapel of Kayemnofret in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston, 1992, Figure B, for a complete false door.

The relief is most likely a fragment of a vertical inscription from a false door of an Old Kingdom tomb chapel. The complete inscription was probably an offering formula followed by a list of the tomb owner's titles. The 'keeper of secrets' is a priestly title indicating that one of his roles was as an embalmer.

With rounded rim, short neck, a raised carination to the shoulder, the body tapering to a flat base; usage wear. 172 grams, 69 mm high

Mary Stout Shaw (1880-1962); thence by direct descent to the present owner.

Accompanied by a copy of a 1976 family photo featuring some of the collection on display,

Mary Kilgour Stone was born in 1880 in Cincinnati, Ohio. On 25 November 1903, she married Percy Wyfold Stout from Gloucester (DSO, OBE, 1875-1937), who had moved to Cairo after an international rugby career. After fighting in the First World War, Percy became the Director of the Egyptian Delta Land Company and the Anglo-American Nile Tourist Company. He and Mary were friends with the famous Major Gayer-Anderson, who worked as a doctor on the company’s cruise boats between 1930 and 1939. Gayer-Anderson tells in his memoir how this allowed him to make frequent trips to Upper Egypt and fulfil his passion for collecting (and dealing in) ancient Egyptian art. In his company, Mary became an enthusiast about all things Egypt and formed an elegant collection of ancient Egyptian alabaster vessels, including the following lots. She was particularly fascinated with the ancient cat goddess Bastet. Therefore, when Gayer-Anderson decided to give his famous ancient bronze cat to the British Museum in 1939, he made sure the donation was in both his name and Mary Stout Shaw’s, as a tribute to their friendship.

The larger with rounded rim, concave body and flat base, the smaller with cylindrical body and flat disc rim. 1 kg total, 6.4-11.5 cm high

Mary Stout Shaw (1880-1962); thence by direct descent to the present owner.

Accompanied by a copy of a 1976 family photo featuring some of the collection on display, the larger kohl jar is clearly visible on a 1976 family photo.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12198-220885.

Cf. Aston, B.G., Ancient Egyptian Stone Vessels: Materials and Forms, SAGA 5, Heidelberg, 1994, pp.102-3, nos.31-32, for similar vessels.

Mary Kilgour Stone was born in 1880 in Cincinnati, Ohio. On 25 November 1903, she married Percy Wyfold Stout from Gloucester (DSO, OBE, 1875-1937), who had moved to Cairo after an international rugby career. After fighting in the First World War, Percy became the Director of the Egyptian Delta Land Company and the Anglo-American Nile Tourist Company. He and Mary were friends with the famous Major Gayer-Anderson, who worked as a doctor on the company’s cruise boats between 1930 and 1939. Gayer-Anderson tells in his memoir how this allowed him to make frequent trips to Upper Egypt and fulfil his passion for collecting (and dealing in) ancient Egyptian art. In his company, Mary became an enthusiast about all things Egypt and formed an elegant collection of ancient Egyptian alabaster vessels, including the following lots. She was particularly fascinated with the ancient cat goddess Bastet. Therefore, when Gayer-Anderson decided to give his famous ancient bronze cat to the British Museum in 1939, he made sure the donation was in both his name and Mary Stout Shaw’s, as a tribute to their friendship.

Dressed panel with reserved rectangular border to upper edge with ochre and terracotta pigment; left edge with reserved rectangle and column of hieroglyphs picked out with pigment; the left edge with a reserved rectangle and column of hieroglyphs picked out with pigment giving the titles of the deceased: ı͗ry-pꜤt ḥꜢty-Ꜥ nb, 'member of the elite, foremost of action, and lord'; to the right, a tabulated list of offerings with the quantities for each indicated beneath. 10.85 kg, 37 cm high

Acquired in the mid-1980s-1990s.
Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent.
Private collection, since the late 1990s.

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 number no.12199-222171.

See Fluck, C. & Helmecke, G., Burial Practice, in Fluck et al., Egypt: Faith After the Pharaohs, London, 2015, for discussion; cf. Murray, M.A., Saqqara Mastabas Part I, ERA 10, London, 1904, pl.XXIX, for a similar arrangement of a vertical column of inscription with larger hieroglyphs in the left frame next to the offering list in the 5th Dynasty tomb of User-netjer.

The majority of preserved Old Kingdom offerings lists come from tombs at Saqqara or other parts of the Memphite necropolis and were intended to ensure that the deceased would be sustainably provided for eternally. During the 4th Dynasty, around 165 different offerings could be listed for the deceased, but by the 5th Dynasty, almost half of these had disappeared while some new ones were added. Even then, these lists could include around a hundred offerings. Although non-consumable items such as eye paint and cloth are sometimes listed, most offerings are different kinds of food, such as bread, wine, grain, and fruit.

With a tall, flaring cup rounded at the base, attached to a short stem supported on a flared foot; the outside of the cup decorated with petals modelled in relief and a ribbed rim; the stem and foot plain; some restoration. 126 grams, 16 cm

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

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12099-214088.

Cf. Eggebrecht, A., Ägyptens Aufstieg zur Weltmacht, Mainz, 1987, 326, no. 279, for a similar chalice.

Faience chalices shaped like the flowers of the blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) first appeared in the 18th Dynasty. The blue lotus chalices were believed to have been used for cultic or votive purposes in temples or in rituals offered to the dead. Known as 'Seshen' by the ancient Egyptians, the blue lotus was a symbol of solar concepts associated with rebirth, probably because its flowers opened in the morning and closed at night. Hence, it is not surprising to find that the lotus was prominently featured in ancient Egyptian funerary art, particularly in banqueting scenes honouring the deceased, and in bouquets that adorned the coffin and bier of the deceased. It is also believed that the flower petals were used to make perfume, and that the ancient Egyptians took advantage of the lotus's narcotic properties. The extracted essence was added to wine to enhance its pleasurable effects, as depicted in banqueting scenes with intoxicated guests.

Squat in profile with integral discoid base, broad discoid rim to the mouth. 190 grams, 53 mm wide

Swiss collection, acquired in 1998.

Cf. Guidotti, M.C., Vasi dall’epoca protodinastica al Nuovo Regno, Museo Egizio di Firenze, Rome, 1991, p.120, no. 114, for a similar example.

Such vessels contained kohl, an eyepaint either green or black. Kohl was used as a cosmetic in daily life, mentioned in funerary texts as necessary make-up in the presentation of the deceased before Osiris, and served as a medical treatment for eye ailments. The small size of kohl jars and their tiny capacity indicate the preciousness and costliness of the contents.

Carved with soft facial features and carefully executed cosmetic lines around the eye, earring, and carefully detailed duplex wig with gently wavy curls; likely from the Ramesside Period; mounted on a custom-made stand. 4.23 kg total, 20 cm including stand

Private collection, France.
with Christie’s, New York, 18 December 1996, no.60.
Acquired by the present owner from the above.

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 number no.12202-222169.

Cf. Berman, L.M., The Cleveland Museum of Art Catalogue of Egyptian Art, New York, 1999, pp.233-5, no.168, for the statue of a scribe with similar wig and details.

The shape of the eyes, raised upper and lower cosmetic lines, brows, and mouth on the TimeLine head present a similar countenance to that of the cube statue of Hori, dated to the reign of Ramesses II, now in the Musée du Louvre (inv. no. Louvre E11275). An even closer parallel can be seen in another non-royal statue of Paaha in the British Museum (inv. no. EA 501).

Restrung necklace of annular and tabular beads with fructiform amulets. 13.1 grams, 44 cm

Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Cf. Aldred, C., Jewels of the Pharaohs. Egyptian Jewellery of the Dynastic Period, London, 1971, p.135 no.125, and p.231, for an elaborate Amarna necklace incorporating similarly shaped bi-chrome petal-shaped pendant beads.

Petal-shaped beads of faience and glass were widely used in jewellery during the Amarna Period. During this era, advanced production methods enabled the creation of bi-chrome and polychrome designs, which often included newly developed colours. This resulted in vibrant necklaces that resembled festive collars made of natural floral elements.

Carved amulet of the baboon-headed mummiform figure of Hapy shown standing with dorsal pillar, pierced for suspension. 2.52 grams, 28 mm

Private collection of Mr S.A., Switzerland, 1990s, thence by descent.

Cf. Eggebrecht, A., Suche nach Unsterblichkeit: Totenkult und Jenseitsglaube im Alten Ägypten, Mainz, 1990, pp.44-45, no.T9, for a similar example in faience.

The Four Sons of Horus were deities responsible for protecting the internal organs of the deceased. The baboon-headed Hapy protected the lungs.