Egyptian and Roman Period Amulet Collection

A glazed composition figure of the goddess Sekhmet advancing with feline head and sun-disc headdress; dorsal pillar and rectangular base; repaired. 19.8 grams, 86 mm high



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998.

A blue-glazed faience amulet of the creator god Ptah in the form of the dwarf god Pataikos, modelled nude with stylised anatomical detailing, holding two knives to his stomach, squatting on an oval base; a scarab on the top of his cap; ribbed suspension loop to reverse; mounted on a custom-made display base. 29.6 grams total, 66 mm high including stand



Ex private French collection. with Thierry Maigret, Hotel Drouot, Paris, 12 July 2005, 76.

The Egyptian deity Pataikos is a special manifestation of the creator god Ptah, and the dwarf-like appearance symbolises his magical power. As a protective deity, amulets of Pataikos were worn for their apotropaic qualities; Pataikos was often depicted subjugating poisonous animals such as snakes and scorpions, and Pataikos amulets were probably worn to protect the wearer from such animals. Ptah was the god of Egypt's capital city Memphis and master craftsman of the gods, known for his benevolent and approachable character. Ptah is attested from the beginning of ancient Egypt’s dynastic history and was a creator god, a god of craftsmen, and the patron deity of the Memphite region. The principal temple of the god was located in the city of Memphis. The fragmentary back pillar on this statuette indicates that it was most probably a temple offering, originally inscribed with an invocation to Ptah together with the donor’s name. Such votive figurines with back pillars naming the god and the dedicator occur in various materials, including faience and stone.

A limestone fragment of provincial workmanship, displaying a partial column of titular naming hieroglyphs, possibly royal; repaired. 1.5 kg, 19 cm



London collection, acquired on the art market in the 1980s. From the collection of a West London, UK, gentleman.