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LOT 0493
Egyptian Bronze Oxyrhynchus Fish
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C. OR LATER
4 1/2 in. (203 grams, 11.5 cm).
Modelled in the round on a sledge attached by ventral and pectoral fins; with forked tail, a dorsal ridge, and a tapering nose, featuring recessed circular eyes to accept an insert, a horned sun disc headdress fronted by a uraeus, and a suspension loop behind.
ProvenanceFrom the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
LiteratureCf. Kozloff, A.P., Animals in Ancient Art from the Leo Mildenberg Collection, Mainz am Rhein, 1981, fig. 60, for a similar example; Tiribilli, E., The bronze figurines of the Petrie Museum from 2000 BC to AD 400, London, 2018, p.229, for discussion.
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AUCTIONS:
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Egyptian Faience Menat Amulet
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Amuletic pendant formed as keyhole-shaped plaque with decorative column to one face, ribbed suspension loop to the top. 1.52 grams, 25 mm
Ex early 20th century collection, London, UK.
The menat was a counterpoise that hung at the back of a heavy ornamental collar and was closely associated with the goddess Hathor. Amulets representing the counterpoise were thought to bring good luck, protect against evil spirits, and safeguard the wearer in the afterlife. Their Hathoric connection symbolised fertility and good health for women while representing virility for men. -
Egyptian Painted Wooden Mummy Mask
Ptolemaic Period, circa 3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
D-shaped in plan with carved facial detailing, thick nose and full lips; painted bands to the brow, pierced in three places for attachment. 1.04 kg, 30 cm
Swiss private collection, Zurich, assembled in the 1950s. Private collection. Acquired on the Zurich art market in 2013. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12847-241680.
The cartonnage mask from the Ptolemaic Period (305-30 BC) was a funerary covering made of wood or layers of papyrus/linen and plaster, modelled and painted, which covered the face of the mummy, often gilded, decorated with coloured glass and stones, and depicted the deceased with an idealized face and golden skin to protect him and guarantee him rebirth as a deity in the afterlife, combining Egyptian tradition with Graeco-Roman influences. -
Phoenician Glass Bead Collection
6th-3rd century B.C. or laterEstimate: £900 - 1,200 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £475
Comprising a group of crumb-decorated polychrome oblate beads and a centrepiece pendant formed as a stylised bearded head. 179 grams total, 12-42 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
The Phoenicians, renowned seafarers and traders, were also skilled glassworkers. They produced a wide variety of glass beads using core-forming and winding techniques, with vivid colours and elaborate designs that reflect both technical mastery and cross-cultural influence. Among the most iconic Phoenician beads are glass 'head' beads, crafted in the form of stylised human or mythological faces. Typically, they feature exaggerated facial details like bulging eyes, large noses, beards, and headdresses, often with expressive or comic features. They were possibly worn as amulets to ward off evil or attract protection, though they may also represent deities, ancestors, or foreigners. These beads often incorporate Egyptian, Greek, and Near Eastern stylistic elements, reflecting the Phoenicians’ extensive trade networks.
