Egyptian Carnelian Scarab

Comprising three restrung composition necklaces, each composed of multiple strands of polychrome beads of mainly annular and tubular types. 75 grams total, 68-76 cm long



Acquired before 1979. From the private collection of Mr F. A., South Kensington, London, UK; thence by descent 2014.

Red and yellow faience were among the new colours appeared in the XVIIIth Dynasty, but they were in use until the Late Period. It was ideally formed from a core of sand and quartz and a vitreous alkaline glaze. It was the preferred medium of Egyptian jewellers even before the Fist Dynasty, because of its malleability and its ability to imitate other more expensive materials thanks to the colour of the glaze.

Finely-made amuletic djed pillar; old collector's accession number 'E.436' to underside; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 106 grams, 17 cm high



with ink inscribed 'E.436' to base. Acquired in 1970. Ex private European collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11602-199041.

The djed pillar symbolises stability and is usually understood to be the spine of the god Ptah although its origins are more probably in cult practices involving sheaves of reeds which were revered due to the general absence of trees from the Egyptian landscape. The djed later came to be symbolise Seker, the falcon god of Memphis and Ptah, the Memphite god of craftsmen, who carried a sceptre formed as a combination of the djed and the ankh. The cult of Ptah waned and gave way to that of Osiris so that by the New Kingdom (16th century B.C.), the djed had become associated with Osiris, part of whose cult included a ceremony for raising the djed representing Osiris's triumph over Seth.

Group of steatite and glazed composition scarabs each with hieroglyphs to the underside, the largest with a cartouche of Amenophis III. 10.1 grams total, 13-18 mm



Ex North London, UK, gentleman, 1990s.