Egyptian Bifacial Steatite Amuletic Plaque with Cartouches for Tuthmoses III

Upper portion of an arch-top limestone stele fragment with two dressed faces; the obverse lunette features a winged sun disc flanked by uraei and two partial rows of incised pseudo-hieroglyphs below; the reverse displays the head of the god Bes in high relief, with traces of the head of the young Horus immediately below, who would have been depicted grasping the two partially preserved snakes and a scorpion carved in raised relief to the right; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 450 grams total, 11.6 cm high including stand



Frossart Collection, France, by the 19th century. Private collection, London, UK.

Although fragmentary, this stela is easily recognisable as a Horus cippus or magical stela. They were used to heal ailments caused by snake or scorpion venom. Ancient Egyptians believed that water poured over these cippi would turn into a healing liquid that the afflicted could drink or apply to their bodies.

In brownish-black and white faience with black detailing, depicted wearing a round wig featuring a side-lock, the white face displaying eyes, eyebrows, nostrils, and a short beard in black; the arms crossed, and the white-glazed hands (one missing) holding hoes; a slightly raised white-glazed frontal panel containing a column of hieroglyphic text reading: 'The Osiris, the sem (priest), the King's Son, Khaemwaset, True of Voice'. 103 grams, 12.7 cm



Acquired on the UK art market, 1990s. Private collection, New York, USA.

Khaemwaset was the fourth son of Ramesses II, born to Queen Iset-Nofret. In addition to serving as the Sem-priest of Ptah at Memphis from an early age, he held various titles related to the Memphite cult, including High Priest of Ptah. The side-lock featured on all of Khaemwaset's shabtis is associated with his priestly role. Many shabtis of the prince are known, with the largest single group coming from the Serapeum at Saqqara; however, others have been found in numerous other locations. Since Khaemwaset's tomb has yet to be discovered, it appears that most of the known shabtis may have served as votive offerings in the sacred areas of the Memphite necropolis. His faience shabtis come in various colours, including green, blue, white, and black, and range in size from just under 10 cm to 15 cm in height. The distinctive glaze combination of this example, featuring a raised white-glazed panel contrasting with the darker body colour, is also found on some other 19th Dynasty shabtis (Cf. Janes, G., The Shabti Collections 3: Rochdale Arts & Heritage Service, Cheshire, 2011, pp.1-5, for those of Userhat from Sedment).

Modelled in the round with a piriform body and two lateral projections with striations. 7.66 grams, 30 mm



Ex N. Thomas private collection, UK, 1980s-1990s. Accompanied by a previous dealer's sales ticket.