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LOT 0006
Egyptian Alabaster Alabastron with Vestigial Lug Handles
LATE PERIOD, CIRCA 664-332 B.C.
6 1/8 in. (440 grams, 15.5 cm high).
The elongated oval body on a flat base, with gently curving shoulder and two elegant duck-head shaped vestigial handles.
ProvenanceMary 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.
See Aston, B.G., Ancient Egyptian Stone Vessels: Materials and Forms, Heidelberg, 1994, pp.162-163 (Third Intermediate Period), p.166 (Late Period), for the type; for a museum comparable, cf. Liverpool Museum, acc. no. 1973.1.225.
FootnotesMary 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.
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LOT 0006
Egyptian Alabaster Alabastron with Vestigial Lug Handles
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000€1,740 - 2,320 (for guidance only)$2,030 - 2,700 (for guidance only)
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Egyptian Faience Bead and Scarab Group
Mainly Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising mainly blue tubular and annular beads, and a small Tawaret(?) amulet; a fragmentary glass bead(?) with some iridescence, a fragmentary scarab and a carnelian scarab with the throne name of Thutmose III, men-kheper-Re, to the underside, chipped. 8 grams total, 2-17 mm
Ex Belinda Elliston collection. -
Egyptian Alabaster Kohl Jars
New Kingdom, circa 1550-1070 B.C.Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £556
The larger with squat profile, slight flare to the foot, carinated shoulder and small rounded rim; the smaller with wide flat rim, round shoulder and body tapering to a flat base. 310 grams total, 43-61 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, 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.12197-220887.
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. -
Phoenicio-Egyptian Dark Green Stone Scarab
Circa 6th-4th century B.C.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £150
With textured carapace, bull-horned column to the reverse. 3.94 grams, 15 mm
From the property of the late Mr SM, London, UK, 1969-1999.
The very frequent discovery of scarabs in Eastern and Western Phoenician and Punic tombs is the most notable and evident document of the prestige that Egyptian magic had in the Phoenician world. The generalized adoption of the scarab, both in its symbolic language linked to the regenerative form of earthly or otherworldly life and in its function as a seal, identifies the extent of Egyptian influence on the Phoenician culture since its Syro-Palestinian origins.
