Egyptian Carnelian Fly Amulet

Modelled seated on a tongue-shaped base, with simple facial detailing and suspension loop to the back. 0.51 grams, 8 mm



Ex French collection, early 20th century.

The goddess Bastet was believed to be the daughter of the sun god and was shown with the features of a lion up until about 1000 B.C. when she was first portrayed as a cat or human with a cat head. As the daughter of Ra she was associated with the rage inherent in the sun god's eye which was considered to be his instrument of vengeance. Her development into a cat goddess occurred during the New Kingdom but did not fully develop until the Late Period. She was still associated with the destructive power of the sun and was shown on the prow of the solar boat, decapitating the evil serpent Apophis in the Book of the Dead. The maternal, protective and hunting characteristics of the cat are obvious in Bastet and she was seen as a protector of pregnant women and young children. In the Pyramid Texts she is invoked by the deceased king to act as his protector and to help him reach the sky to join the sun god; the king proclaims that Bastet is his mother and nurse. Like her counterpart, Sekhmet, Bastet has an aggressive side and, in a text from Karnak, Amenhotep II described his enemies being slaughtered like the victims of Bastet. The goddess had a shrine at Karnak, where she is known as the 'Lady of Asheru' which aligns her closely with the goddess Mut, the consort of Amun-Ra. Her most famous shrine was in the north-east Delta region, at Bubastis, and was known as Per-Bastet or 'the House of Bastet.' Herodotus describes the festival of Bastet as one of the most elaborate in all of Egypt and identifies her with the Greek Artemis. Cemeteries of cats have been excavated at Bubastis and at Saqqara and Memphis.

Seated falcon with impressed detailing to wings and head; rectangular base and suspension loop on the back. 1.08 grams, 17 mm



Ex early 20th century collection, London, UK.

Horus is one of the most significant and widely worshipped gods in ancient Egyptian mythology. His importance spans multiple facets of Egyptian religion, including kingship, protection, the sky, and the sun. Depicted in various human and animal forms, Horus played a vital role in Egyptian cosmology, particularly as the Pharaoh's protector and as a symbol of divine authority.

Mummiform shabti wearing a tripartite wig, with arms crossed and holding a hoe in each hand, and cords for a water pot hanging from the back on each shoulder; a seed bag suspended below the wig; the outline of the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, hoes, water pots, and seed bag painted black; a central column of hieroglyphs on the front, with the opening preserved reading "The Osiris..."; repaired. 98 grams, 13.2 cm



From a UK private collection formed in the 1970s. Ex Ancient Relics. Ex D.S. collection, West Sussex, 1990s-2000s. Accompanied by an illustrated catalogue sheet and a previous catalogue information slip.