Coptic Bone Doll

Blue faience cylindrical offering cup, gently tapering form with slightly flared foot and rim, a black painted rectangular frame containing a hieroglyphic inscription including cartouches containing the throne and birth names of Ramesses II and the dedication: skr-wsı͗r mry nb tꜢwy (wsr-mꜢꜤt-re stp-n-re) nb ḫꜤw (ı͗mn mry re-mssw), ‘Beloved of Sokar-Osiris, lord of the Two Lands (The justice of Re is powerful, Chosen of Re), lord of appearances (Beloved of Amun, Ramesses)’. 29.94 grams, 46 mm



Francesc Cambó i Batlle (1876-1947) a prominent Spanish politician, art patron and philanthropist. Gifted to his friend, the archaeologist Josep Gilbert i Buch. Acquired from Gilbert's family by the present owner's grandfather in the early 1980s. Private collection of a European noble.

Francesco Cambó i Batlle was a notable figure in early 20th century Spain, best known for his role in politics as a leader of the Catalan nationalist movement and as a patron of the arts. He was a key benefactor of the Museo del Prado and left a significant legacy through his art collections. His deep connection to the cultural and artistic life of Spain makes items from his collection particularly valuable and historically significant.

The large liturgical rattle with a columnar handle composed of a bifacial figure of Bes standing on a lotus capital, flanked by seated sphinxes, his feathered crown supporting the bust of goddess Hathor wearing a broad collar and a curling wig, two rearing uraei emerging from the sides to support the base of the rattle, both wearing the pschent crown, above the cobras a standing figure of the goddess Hathor in cow form, wearing a tripartite wig and a sun disc between the horns; the rattle with a looped body with flared outer rims and set with three metal rods to accept metal discs, a pair of reclining lions to the base and the top with three felines surrounding a cockerel, and resting one of their front paws on the bird. 1.52 kg, 39.5 cm



German art market. European private collection, 1970s-early 2000s. Acquired from the above; thence by descent. Private collection, London, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12348-225588.

The sistrum (seshesh in ancient Egyptian) was a rattle-like musical instrument, played exclusively by women in religious ceremonies. It was often decorated with the bust of the goddess Hathor to whom the sistrum was sacred. Their use continued into the Roman period in ceremonies associated with the cult of Isis.

The S-curved body resting on a tongue-shaped based, detailed hood, and delicate details to the head of a lioness; wrapped in a gold frame with suspension loop. 2 grams, 18 mm



Private collection of Mr K.A. Private collection, Europe, 26 June 2009.

This amulet likely represents a goddess, either Sekhmet or Wadjet. Sekhmet is typically depicted as a lioness or lion-headed woman, while Wadjet appears in the form of a cobra. The lion-headed cobra form can be an allusion to the uraeus, worn on the crowns of royalty and deities for protection.