Egyptian Blue Faience Bead Necklace

Material also known as 'Chephren Diorite' carved with a flattened base and flaring, slightly convex sides with inward curving rim bevelled on the inside, single groove encircling the tondo; repaired. 1.4 kg, 22 cm wide



with Sotheby's, 17 December 1997, no.34. Ex Rupert Wace Ancient Art, London, 1998. Ex AS collection, London, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the Rupert Wace Ancient Art invoice. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12129-214106.

Depicted nude in a dynamic pose with his legs apart and the weight of the body upon his right leg, standing in front of a two storey structure, probably an oven; his left arm raised and right arm extended in front of his torso and resting on the edge of the structure; the oven painted pink at the top and white at the bottom with an offering receptacle at floor level. 232 grams, 15 cm



Ex Dr Daniel Marie Fouquet (1859-1914), Cairo. with Pierre Berge & Associes, Auction, Archaeology 29 November 2014, no.193. Accompanied by a French cultural export permit, no.161028. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant pages in: Perdrizet, P., Les Terres Cuites Grecques d'Egypt de la Collection Fouquet, Nancy, 1921, where it is published. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12000-211884.

The image of the ‘Eros Baker’ is part of a wide production of Roman terracotta imitating Greek models, although in somewhat crude way. In the Roman age, designs tended to be commonplace and were often indifferent copies of Greek originals. However, the production of terracotta in Hellenistic Egypt continued without interruption and the most subjects of these votive statuettes (in this case probably a baker invoking the blessing of the god upon his activity) were religious, Eros being one of the favourites.

Of ovoid form tapering to a narrow flattened base. 274 grams, 13.5 cm



From the vendor's grandfather's collection, formed in the 1950s; thence by family descent circa 1974.

The 'black-topped' ware was the most common funerary pottery during Naqada I and Naqada II periods, with a small volume of production in the Naqada III, Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods.