Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 0472

Egyptian Alabaster Kohl Pot with Later Hieroglyphs

SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD, 1650-1550 B.C.

2 1/8 in. (208 grams, 55 mm high).

Comprising a squat piriform body with a wide everted rim, a band of later hieroglyphs beneath the shoulder: ḳmꜢ.t n bꜢw ı͗wnw nfrw.s (You have gathered the souls (i.e. divine powers) of Heliopolis—her beauties).

Provenance

Ex late London, UK, gentleman, 1970s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Literature

Cf. Vandier d’Abbadie, J., Les objets de toilette égyptiens au Musée du Louvre, Paris, 1972, pp. 84-85, no. 316, for a similar vessel.

Footnotes

The inscription on what is a cosmetic vessel could be interpreted as “You acquire the powers of Heliopolis, source of her beauty”; “her beauties” likely references either the woman using the vessel or perhaps the divine beauty imparted by the contents.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 0472

Egyptian Alabaster Kohl Pot with Later Hieroglyphs

Sold for (Inc. bp): £195

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Egyptian Pre-Dynastic Stone Frog
    Egyptian Pre-Dynastic Stone Frog
    4th millennium B.C.

    Estimate: £1,800 - 2,400 (‡+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £810

    Pyramidal in form with shallow-carved hip and facial detailing. 537 grams, 81 mm



    with Artemis Gallery, Munich, Germany, 2001. Private collection, Europe. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12580-232124. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    The frog had a great role in ancient Egyptian mythology and was connected with the mythology of creation. A number of gods and goddesses were connected with the frog such as Heqet, Ptah, and Heh. The connection with the god Ptah as a god of creation was probably due to the idea that Ptah was the only god who created the world in ancient Egypt through his heart and his tongue. Every work of the god came about through what his heart devised and his tongue commanded. Frogs were often associated with Hekat, deity of birth and fecundity. Amulets of frogs were frequent votive gifts at such Predynastic and Archaic sites at Abydos, Naqada, and Saqqara.

    Lot Details

  • Egyptian Mixed Scarab Collection
    Egyptian Mixed Scarab Collection
    2nd-1st millennium B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £572

    Comprising (from left to right and top to bottom): 1) a scarab with an oval border containing, on either side, a maat feather, rearing cobra, and Dual Crown flanking a central column composed of ‘r’–‘n’–‘r’- sa (x2)-ka-neb signs; 2) a scarab with an oval border containing the throne name of pharaoh Amenhotep III (Neb-Maat-Re); 3) a scarab with an oval border containing a seated deity holding an ankh sign, facing sa, water, and neb signs; 4) a scarab with an oval border containing a running ibex surrounded by foliage; 5) a scarab with partially preserved design that gives the throne name of pharaoh Akhenaten (Nefer-kheperu-Re); 6) a scarab with an oval border containing a viper, duck and nefer signs. 19.5 grams total, 14-23 mm



    From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Lot Details

  • Egyptian Steatite Harpocrates Statuette
    Egyptian Steatite Harpocrates Statuette
    Late Period, 664-332 B.C.

    Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000 (+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £750

    Carved in the round, the nude standing figure of the god sporting a solar disc and uraeus headdress, wearing a sidelock, and holding a lotus flower, accompanied by an integral dorsal pillar and base; one arm missing. 15.26 grams, 78 mm



    Ex Thomas collection, UK, 1980s-1990s. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Harpocrates is the Greek rendering of the Egyptian Hor-pa-khered, which translates as ‘Horus the Child’. This designation refers to Horus as the divine infant of Isis and Osiris. His nudity represents youth and purity. The sun disc and lotus flower symbolises divine rebirth and solar renewal. The sun disc connects him to Ra and the daily cycle of rebirth, while the lotus—opening with the sunrise—emphasises creation and emergence from chaos. Together, these elements express triumph over death and the promise of eternal life.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list