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LOT 0007
Egyptian Alabaster Alabastron
LATE PERIOD, CIRCA 664-332 B.C.
3 3/8 in. (174 grams, 87 mm high).
With small everted rim, the body of oval shape with two ear-shaped vestigial handles; rim chipped and base partly absent.
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.
Cf. Aston, B.G., Ancient Egyptian Stone Vessels: Materials and Forms, SAGA 5, Heidelberg, 1994, p.166, no.227a, for a similar example of the type.
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 0007
Egyptian Alabaster Alabastron
Estimate £600 - 800€700 - 930 (for guidance only)$810 - 1,080 (for guidance only)
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Egyptian Faience Bead and Amulet Group
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising mainly blue and green tubular beads with some annular beads and fragmentary amulets, including the head of a hare and a portion of a hedjet crown. 19 grams total, 2-19 mm
From an early 20th century Home Counties, UK, collection. -
Egyptian Red Limestone Jar
New Kingdom, 1550-1069 B.C.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £400
With everted disc rim and flat base, twin lug handles at the shoulder. 57 grams, 51 mm
Pino Donati collection, Lugano-Breganzona, formed in the 1960s-early 1970s. with Arte Classica, Stefano Donati, Lugano. Private collection, Europe, acquired November 2011 from the above. with Bonhams, New Bond Street, 28 November 2019, no.163.
Red limestone vessels have a limited chronological range and are particularly characteristic of the Predynastic Period. See Aston, B.G., Ancient Egyptian Stone Vessels: Materials and Forms, SAGA 5, Heidelberg, 1994, p.170, fig. 21, for the chronological range of the stone used for vessels. -
Egyptian Faience Necklace with Pendant
1400-1100 B.C.Estimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £333
Restrung group of tubular and fusiform faience beads with D-shaped pendant and two tiers of dangles beneath. 48 grams, 80 cm long
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.
