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LOT 0009
Egyptian Bronze Base with Ibex and Hieroglyphs
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C.
4 5/8 in. (205 grams, 11.7 cm).
Rectangular with two sockets to the upper face, low-relief recumbent ibex; incised hieroglyphic text to one short sidewall and remains on both long sidewalls, giving a dedication to 'give life, health, a long [lifetime......]'.
ProvenanceGalerie Orient-Occident, Paris, 1990.
Parisian private collection.
with Pierre Berge, 2 February 2017, lot 85.
Cf. Tiribilli, E., The bronze figurines of the Petrie Museum from 2000 BC to AD 400, GHP Egyptology 28, London, 2018, p.302, no. 499, for a less elaborately decorated, inscribed base.
FootnotesThe bound ibex is a frequent image in ancient Egyptian art and a prized foodstuff. The animal's presence on this base symbolises the finest offerings to the once-attached deity.
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 Faience Scarab for Amenhotep III
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1410-1372 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
Modelled with carapace and mouth details, the underside with hieroglyphic text giving the dedication: 'the good god, lord of the Two Lands, beloved of Amun', with the cartouche containing the throne name of Amenhotep III (Neb-Maat-Re). 2.53 grams, 17 mm
From the collection of Doctor Girard, a collector for over 60 years. with Hotel des Ventes de Clermont-Ferrand, 22 May 2017. Property of a French collector. -
Egyptian Rock Crystal Scarab
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Estimate: £200 - 300 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £111
With segmented carapace, plain underside. 4.45 grams, 18 mm
From the property of the late Mr SM, London, UK, 1969-1999. -
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Egyptian Limestone Female Bust
Coptic, 3rd-6th century A.DEstimate: £8,000 - 10,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £4,000
Modelled in the half-round on a flat background as a bust of a woman with stern expression, dressed in a tunic emphasising the rounded shape of the bosom, and a mantle worn on the shoulders descending to the arms; beaded collar to the chest and detailed head-covering; significant remains of polychrome (red, black, and traces of blue) on the face, clothing and hair; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 6.77 kg, 27 x 19.5 cm
From the collection of Nicolas Koutoulakis, Paris-Geneva, 1967. Ex Barbier-Mueller, Geneva, Switzerland. with Boisgirad, Arts D'Orient, 16 November 2007, no.88. Acquired on the French art market in 2007. European private collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Boisgirad, Arts D'Orient catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12065-218189.
The base, back and sides are flat and rough-hewn: it is possible that it served as a funerary stele, perhaps placed as a “lid” of a niche or a loculus. The Egyptian stelae and statues found at the site of Oxyrhynchos (present-day Benhasa) provide the best parallels for the style that characterises this image. These are most often funerary works showing men, women or children (stelae in very high-relief and statues) which are still little known - and even the chronology of which is subject of discussion: current opinion one inclines towards an earlier dating, between the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D., rather than the Coptic period which was previously favoured. In fact these figures, which are devoid of the attributes linked to Christian iconography, generally hold or carry objects which relate to "classical" cults (ie. Isis). Despite a certain naivety of the work, typical of Egyptian sculptures from this region, the woman depicted on this stele certainly belonged to the high contemporary nobility as is evidenced by the richness of her well-pleated clothing and the abundance of adornment, comprising a large necklace with two rows of pearls and some brooches; likewise, the hairstyle, organised in small curls and spiral locks, is worthy of a high-ranking personage.
