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LOT 0030
Egyptian Anubis Staff Terminal
1ST CENTURY B.C.- 2ND CENTURY A.D.
5 in. (223 grams, 12.7 cm high).
A bronze staff or sceptre terminal formed as a priest of Anubis with jackal's head and human body, standing and wearing a tightly-draped toga with right hand extended in a fist; square base and socket to the underside.
ProvenancePrivate collection, since 1989.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11604-199678.
Cf. The British Museum, museum number EA36064 'Solid-cast copper alloy figure of Anubis wearing a short robe and holding a palm branch', for a comparable figure of this broad period; see Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, p.46-7, for discussion; see also, Tiradritti, F., The Cairo Museum Masterpieces of Egyptian Art, London, 1999, p. 401, for a slightly more elaborate bronze staff terminal of Anubis as a Roman legionnaire (Cairo Museum inv. no. CG27694).
FootnotesAnubis was the ancient Egyptian god of the dead - represented in jackal form or in the form of a jackal-headed man - and one of ancient Egypt's most iconic deities. Originally god of the underworld, he was eventually associated more specifically with the embalming process and funerary rites. His fur was generally depicted as black owing to the association of that colour with fertility and beliefs regarding rebirth in the afterlife.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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
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Egyptian and Other Glass Collection
3rd century B.C.-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
A mixed group of glass fragments. 66 grams total, 13-38 mm
From a UK private collection, 1975-1978. -
Graeco-Egyptian Head of Baubo Lamp
2nd century B.C.-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
A terracotta oil lamp formed as the head of Baubo, with a smiling, plump face, wavy locks and taenia, two circular apertures at either side of her neck, expression formed with semi-naturalistic features and large extended earlobes accommodating circular apertures; circular hole to reverse and oval hole to top of head; trace remains of white gesso; vintage collection label to reverse. 245 grams, 10.4 cm
with ink inscribed label '1.2.27 CAS (22)'. From the deceased estate of N.A.C. Embiriscos, UK, 1950-1969. with Christie's London, 25 April 2001, lot 249. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages. -
Egyptian Faience Figure of Thoth
26th Dynasty, 664-525 B.C.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,000
A pale green glazed composition figure of Thoth in ibis-head form, plain dorsal pillar, pleated kilt, tripartite wig; old collector's inked accession number 'E.1000' to the reverse; repaired. 44.7 grams, 88 mm high
Ex Roger Liechti collection, Geneva, Switzerland. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11595-199013.
One of the most prominent of the ancient Egyptian gods, Thoth was associated with writing, magic and wisdom, and was credited with founding a number of branches of knowledge including law, religion and science. He is believed to have been self-created or grown from the seed of Horus from the forehead of Set. As the son of the gods of order and chaos, he was also the god of equilibrium. As such, he was considered a just and infallible judge. Worshipped from the Pre-Dynastic to the Ptolemaic Period, Thoth was one of the longest, continuously worshipped gods from any civilisation. Thoth's Egyptian name was Djehuty (also dhwty) meaning ‘He Who is Like the Ibis’, a sacred bird in ancient Egypt as well as a popular pet associated with wisdom.
