Egyptian Alabaster Jar

Comprising a large standing Bes statuette on a rectangular base and a smaller Bes pierced for suspension; four scarabs with detailing to the upper face and incised signs and motifs on the underside; a tear-shaped bunch of grapes with a broken suspension loop; a lozenge-shaped pierced for suspension. 11 grams total, 9-38 mm



From the Walter Thomas Gaze Cooper (1895-1980) collection; thence by descent.

Carved in the round depiction of Bastet or Sekhmet in a lion-headed form with a tripartite headdress, with front lappets overlain by the leonine mane; between the ears, a hole possibly for the insertion of a separate sun disc element; red pigment lines and fringe to the shoulders; a black diamond pattern with central red dots decorating the back, and a winged scarab in black on the abdomen; marked on the underside with the collector's reference 'BAOP SAKKARA'; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 29 grams total, 77 mm including stand



Private collection of George Anastase Michaelides (1900-1973) and legally exported from Egypt in the 1940s. Black ink inscription on base "BAOP SAKKARA". Christie's, London, 29 October 2003, no.167. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13101-248076.

Considering the specified Saqqara provenance, it is probable that the statuette originated from the Bubastaeion, dedicated to Bastet. The goddess was more commonly depicted as a cat or a human with a cat's head, although she also sometimes displayed a leonine aspect. It is also possible that the statuette represents her son, Mahes, who was depicted as a man with a lion's head.

A sizeable, slender standing mummiform figure of Osiris, wearing his iconic tall conical Atef crown with flanking ostrich plumes and a central uraeus, holding the crook (heka) and flail (nekhakha) regalia; mounted on a display stand. 821 grams total, 26 cm high including stand



From the estate of Alexander Dobkin (1908-1975), New York, USA, acquired prior to 1975. Thence by descent to his daughter, Katherine Dobkin, New York, USA..

Osiris was associated with death and fertility and was widely recognised as the supreme god of renewal and rebirth. Although he was once a mortal ruler, as a deity, his domain was the Underworld. Abydos served as the main site of Osiris’ worship, where a renowned annual celebration in his honour took place.