Egyptian Bead Collection

Comprising: a fragment of a clavus of tunic in purple wool on linen, embroidered with vegetal motifs patterned inside orbiculi, framed by straight borders with external crenellation; a fragment of segmentum in yellow, green and red wool, S torsion, embroidered with floral and geometric patterns. 46 grams total including package, 15-16 cm



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

The fragments are decorative parts of tunics. 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.

Comprising: fragment of an orbiculus in brown and yellow coarse linen and wool, S torsion, embroidered with a running animal (lion?); fragment of a tablion with representations of fishes, white and green wool on linen. 10 grams total including package, 34-71 mm



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

Particularly interesting is the presence of fish, which are part of depictions of marine life, in keeping with the classical Graeco-Roman tradition. Stylistically, Hellenistic naturalism is evident in these compositions in the rounded shapes of fish and marine animals, which create an effect of movement.

A restrung group of annular and figural beads forming a collar of five descending tiers including djed pillar, atef crown, cartouche and other types. 53 grams total, 32.5 cm wide



Property of a North London, UK, gallery. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12935-246384.

Several faience collars found in the tomb of Tutankhamun use amuletic forms, the hes-vase, nefer-sign, and cartouche pendants as part of primarily plant-form collars. Depictions of collars on the sarcophagi and gold mask from the tomb of Tuiya and Yuia also show nefer-signs and palmettes used alongside the more common plant designs.