Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

Formed as a model janiform jug with loop handles (one absent), a spout, and addorsed masks of Hathor with hatched detailing on the hair, arms bent below the face, and hands cupping the breasts; repaired and mounted on a custom-made stand. 192 grams total, 10.2 cm high including stand



From a Hastings, Kent, UK, antiques dealer, (shop closed 2009). with Burstow & Hewett, 2024. Acquired by the current owner from the above. Accompanied by a copy of an illustrated academic report by Simone Musso.

Discoid seal impression with one face preserving a partial impressed cartouche, the other side bearing the impression of a cord and linen. 1.92 grams, 17 mm



London, UK, art market, 1980s. Private collection, London, UK.

Clay seals were used to secure doors and containers holding valuable commodities and goods. The impression on the underside of this example indicates that it once sealed a linen bag or a linen lid cover.

Modelled in the round on a sledge attached by ventral and pectoral fins, a forked tail, a dorsal ridge, and a tapering nose, featuring recessed circular eyes filled with enamel, a horned sun disc headdress fronted by a uraeus, and a suspension loop behind; a few hieroglyphs of a dedication remain visible on the underside of the sledge, which may be interpreted as part of a name ‘….Ta-ir-di-ankhet…’ (…tꜢ di͗ Ꜥnḫ t….). 585 grams, 17 cm



Acquired from Gallery Reiner, Paris, France, 1981. Private collection, Europe. Accompanied by a copy of French passport no.150583 dated 29 November 2013. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate no.12375-226676.

The Medjed, a type of elephant-snout fish (Mormyrus kannume), was revered in ancient Egyptian religion, particularly in Per-Medjed, better known by its Greek name, Oxyrhynchus Polis. This version of the name, meaning "city of the sharp-nosed," reflects the fish's distinctive appearance as depicted in Egyptian art. These fish were believed to have consumed the penis of Osiris, the god who was dismembered and scattered by his brother Seth. As sacred creatures, figurines of the Medjed were often adorned with a horned sun-disc headdress worn by the goddesses Hathor and Isis, suggesting a close association with both. Some figurines, like this example, featured suspension loops, allowing them to be worn as pendant amulets.

Plano-convex in section, with the underside showing an enthroned figure holding a staff before a reed leaf, with a sun disc above. 2.8 grams, 17 mm



From a mid 20th century collection.

Composed of green and blue glazed oblate beads, restrung. 3 grams, 29 cm



Excavated from Egypt in 1914. From the private collection of Mr David Sams and his wife Elizabeth Kate Sams, gentry and amateur archaeologists who travelled to Egypt in 1914 with their daughter Ethel. Mr Sams and his wife led digging expeditions from which these items come, from the family estate of Mr and Mrs Sams, by direct descent to their granddaughter.

In linen and wool, showing the half-bust of a man clad in tunica paragaudata, borders with geometric decorations. 4.68 grams, 10 cm



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

The tabula, or tablion, was a square embroidery used to decorate tunics or mantles. This one, interestingly, shows a man dressed in the typical late Roman tunic, featuring the image of a soldier or military servant.

Comprising: restrung necklace of mainly white annular beads and a pendant with a fragment of original mummy cloth and an old card label: 'Ancient Egyptian Necklace of Beads in bright blue glaze B.C. 900 From Prof. Petrie's excavations. Selected & finely matched beads ...specimens of ... colour' and old card label 'Blue Egyptian Necklace and Mummy Cloth'; restrung necklace of blue tubular beads with fragment of original mummy cloth and old card label 'Ancient Egyptian Necklace of the rare disc beads of B.C. 900. Fine glaze and colours. From Prof. Petrie's excavations at Gurob. Specimen of mummy cloth attached'. 20 grams total, 46-100 cm



Ex Petrie excavations early 20th century. From the estate of a deceased Sussex private collector since the early 20th century. Accompanied by two old handwritten labels.

Mummiform figure with a high-relief bag wig, a top sash band, facial details, tools, a seed bag, and hieroglyphs on the lower body, all rendered in black pigment. 40 grams, 10.8 cm



with a privately curated collection, 1980s-early 2000s. From the private collection and estate of Christine Simons (1943-2025), West Midlands, UK.

Ellipsoid plaque with reserved high-relief profile bust, wearing a diadem in the hair. 4.77 grams, 26 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

Egyptian-style or Hellenistic/Ptolemaic agate cameos featuring a portrait bust bound with a taenia (a narrow fillet or headband) typically represent a royal or divine figure from the Graeco-Roman or Ptolemaic period in Egypt.

Comprising a large segmentum in linen and wool, purple wool on linen, S-torsion, borders with dentilled decoration, floral and vegetal embroidery divided into three running strips; mounted on linen backing. 88 grams total, 26 cm



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

This embroidery was typical of tunics and garments characterised by full-length clavi, decorated with either intricate geometric patterns or with a multitude of small figures and animals, often edged with geometric borders and finished with thick, weft-loop fringes or cords.

Comprising mostly green-glazed tubular beads, restrung. 2.63 grams, 36 cm



Excavated from Egypt in 1914. From the private collection of Mr David Sams and his wife Elizabeth Kate Sams, gentry and amateur archaeologists who travelled to Egypt in 1914 with their daughter Ethel. Mr Sams and his wife led digging expeditions from which these items come from the family estate of Mr and Mrs Sams, by direct descent to their granddaughter.

Typical mummiform shape, modelled with a rectangular base and a dorsal pillar, tripartite wig and braided false beard, holding the pick and hoe in crossed hands. 56.42 grams, 10.5 cm



From the estate of a deceased Sussex private collector since the early 20th century.