Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

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.

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 0456

Egyptian Amethyst Ba-Bird Amulet

Sold for (Inc. bp): £124

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
    Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
    Circa 4th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £234

    Comprising: fragment from a wide tunic segmentum in red granate and coarse linen, S torsion, embroidered with stylised birds and plants inscribed in tondos; fragment of another segmentum in red, blue and green wool, with representations of buds. 63 grams total including package, 19.5-25 cm



    Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

    Similar figures are widely present in Coptic textiles, repeating a pattern in which flowers are usually paired with bird figures. This decoration is typical of tunics, but it was also used in large-scale textiles intended for domestic or funerary furnishings.

    Lot Details

  • Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
    Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
    Circa 6th-7th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £260

    Comprising: a large fragment of a segmentum in linen and wool, S torsion, fringed borders, embroidered with vegetal ornaments; a purple on linen tabula with geometric decoration; a fragment of a segmentum in wool and linen, with circular embroidery; and a large fragment of a tablion, ornamented with images of fishes, birds and vegetal patterns in red, green, yellow and dark blue wool, the central tondo missing. 114 grams total including package, 13-24.6 cm



    Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

    Water plant elements are scattered across the bottom of the tablion, which is decorated with water birds; these decorations likely surrounded the image of a nereid. These abstract decorations show a strong stylisation often giving the marine animals a plant-like appearance.

    Lot Details

  • Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
    Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
    Circa 4th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £143

    Comprising: an orbiculus in purple wool and coarse linen, on brown linen background, S torsion, embroidered with two stylised lions, the borders crenellated; a tabula in purple wool and coarse linen, on brown linen background, S torsion, embroidered with a central cross, the borders decorated with meanders. 36 grams total including package, 8.7-13 cm



    Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

    The tabula, or tablion, was a squared embroidery decorating tunics or mantles. The Christian elements, like the cross at the centre of our tabula, began to decorate the garments from the 4th century onwards.

    Lot Details

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