Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 0456
Egyptian Amethyst Ba-Bird Amulet
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C.
3/8 in. (0.62 grams, 9.8 mm).
Crouched figure of a human-headed Ba-bird on a rectangular base, carved in the round. [No Reserve]
Provenance
with Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983.
Ex private North American collection.
London private collection, 2016.
Literature
See Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, pp. 67-68, for discussion.
CONDITIONVETTING:
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.
RELATED LOTS
-
Egyptian Alabaster Trussed Duck
Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty, circa 2345-2181 B.C.Estimate: £7,000 - 9,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £3,500
Carved in the round with the head and neck laid backwards along the spine; mounted on a custom-made stand. 890 grams total, 10 cm wide including stand
Acquired before 1970. Private French collection. with Bonhams, New Bond Street, London, 29 April 2009, lot 58. Ex Middle Eastern royal family, living in the UK, 2013-2017. Accompanied by a copy of a French cultural passport no.099505. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate, no.S000149104. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12942-245247.
In ancient Egypt, the duck (actually the Egyptian goose) was considered a sacred and very popular animal, often depicted in art and associated with symbolic meanings. It was a common bird in the Nile Valley and considered a symbol of fertility, life, and family, which is why it frequently appeared in scenes of daily life and rituals, and in the artworks. -
Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
Circa 4th-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Comprising: a fragment of a double segmenta from the sleeve of a tunic in purple wool on linen, embroidered with vegetal motifs; the fragment of a double segmenta from the hem of a cloak in brown wool on linen, embroidered with S pattern; a tablion with central geometric motif and border embroidered with meanders; a fragment of tapestry in yellow, green and red wool, S torsion, embroidered with floral patterns. 59 grams total including package, 7-24.5 cm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.
The fragments are decorative parts of tunics and cloaks. These are fabrics of great decorative finesse, with some elements displaying an unusual and extremely well-preserved color palette. The plant designs recall Iranian motifs. -
Romano-Egyptian Bronze Sistrum Fragment with Goat
2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising a slender U-shaped body with beaded border, the sides with four pairs of piercings to accept separate crossbars, an applied goat resting atop the body. 73.7 grams, 10.8 cm
Ex Paul Munro-Walker, Bournemouth, Hampshire, UK, 1980s. From a UK collection since before 1990.
When the sistrum was shaken, copper or bronze discs on its crossbars would rattle against each other, creating a clashing sound. The ancient Egyptian name for the sistrum, sesheshet, is onomatopoeic and mimics this sound.
