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

Fragment of chocolate-coloured wood with incised hieroglyphs inlaid with white paste, preserving the lower part of a cartouche containing Amenhotep III's birth name, with the epithet "Ruler of Thebes" still legible, and two fragmentary columns of hieroglyphs to the right, belonging to a version of the shabti spell. 8.41 grams, 42 mm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Amenhotep III was buried at Thebes in the Valley of the Kings (tomb KV22). His funerary equipment included shabtis in various hardstones and wood. The preserved text, ...ḫnt sḏm.t[n]... ('...forefront; and when you hear...'), belongs to a less common variant of the shabti spell found on other examples of Amenhotep III's shabtis.

Plano-convex in section with carinated upper face, incised linear and drilled detailing. 7.92 grams, 10.3 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Front portion of a tapering funerary cone, with the circular flat surface impressed with four vertical columns of hieroglyphs, reading: 'The Osiris, hereditary prince, count, chancellor of the king of Lower Egypt, first god's servant of Amun, Menkheperreseneb, true of voice.' 554 grams, 10.4 cm



Acquired from Abdoul Rassoul on the West Bank at Luxor, 1974-1980 when a guest lecturer. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Menkheperreseneb served under the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Thutmosis III. His tomb (TT 86) is in the Theban necropolis at Sheikh Abd el-Qurna.

Squat, spherical black-topped storage vase with a flattened base; old collector's ticket: 'Small predynastic Egyptian pot. Round form, flat bottom, usual black top and red body. From Naqada, c. 4000 B.C. Richardson St. Christopher's Mail(?), 27/10/61'. 391 grams, 10.5 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by an old handwritten identification card written by Peter Clayton.

This decorative style's distinctive appearance came from an open-fire or pit-firing method in which the vessel was inverted into ash, organic matter, or smoke-heavy fuel. The buried or inverted top was starved of oxygen and turned black, while the exposed lower portion oxidised to red.

Modelled in the round in advancing pose with ibis head and sun-disc headdress, loop to rear, lower legs absent, display stand; restored in the Institute of Archaeology laboratory. 32.8 grams total, 80 mm including stand



Acquired from Caledonian market, January 1960, for 4 shillings. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by an old handwritten information card by Peter Clayton, collection no.90.

Upper torso fragment with crossed hands, horizontal bands of hieroglyphic text to back and front, display stand with legend 'Ushabti of Pedihorresni, Court Chamberlain XXVI Dyn.'; son of Akhanenru. 30.6 grmas total, 48 mm including stand



Acquired Portabello Road, 14 December 1957, for 5 shillings. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by an old handwritten information card by Peter Clayton, collection no.5.

Padihorresnet served as the chief steward of the God’s Wife of Amun, Nitokris, during the reign of Necho. His monumental tomb (TT 196) is in the Asasif necropolis at Thebes alongside other high officials of the early 26th Dynasty. Padihorresnet's hardstone shabtis lack a back pillar, linking them more closely to the previous 25th Dynasty than to those of the 26th.

Upper half modelled as a scarab beetle with midlegs and hindlegs, and plain elytra separated from the prothorax by double border lines; the underside bearing five lines of hieroglyphic inscription. 70 grams, 45 mm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

The hieroglyphic text presents the final part of Chapter 30b of the Book of the Dead, a spell designed to prevent the deceased's heart from betraying them during the Weighing of the Heart judgment before Osiris.

Mummiform figure wearing a lappet wig, hands placed knuckle-to-knuckle at the chest, holding black-painted hoes and a rudimentary seed bag on the back; a column of hieroglyphic inscription on the lower body: 'The Osiris. Hori(?)'; feet modelled in detail; mounted on a custom-made stand. 102 grams total, 12 cm including stand



Acquired from the Egyptian Exploration Society, 30th June 1965, for 2 shillings and sixpence. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by an old handwritten information card by Peter Clayton, collection no.117.

Biconvex in profile with inked findspot to the butt: 'Desert West of Thebes 1912'. 385 grams, 10.4 cm



Found in the desert west of Thebes, Egypt, 1912. Acquired from Sotheby's, 16 June 1959 (part), £4.10. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by a copy of an old handwritten identification card written by Peter Clayton.

Fragment of a rectangular offering table with incised drainage channels forming a segmented surface, creating a spout at the top end and feeding channels around a central raised panel, bearing incised depictions of two circular loaves flanked by beer jugs; the underside dressed. 1.62 kg, 21.5 cm



Acquired in April 1963. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by an old handwritten identification card written by Peter Clayton.

Offering tables shaped like the hieroglyphic sign for a mat with a loaf of bread, meaning “offering,” were common throughout much of dynastic history and were essential to the funerary cult. They were usually placed near the deceased's tomb, in an offering niche or chapel. If the cult ceased to function, the carved images of food and drink on the table served as magical substitutes, ensuring the continued sustenance and survival of the deceased's ka, or spirit.

Dressed stone fragment preserving the lower part of an incised cartouche. 102 grams, 67 mm



Acquired in February 1978. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by an old handwritten information card by Peter Clayton, collection no.139.

The cartouche appears to contain two narrow horizontal hieroglyphs and the lower part of a circle, suggesting it is the throne name of Akhenaten, Neferkheperure.

Highly stylised human figurine with cuts to indicate features. 9.03 grams, 11.6 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by an old handwritten information slip by Peter Clayton.