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LOT 0518
Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
CIRCA 5TH-6TH CENTURY A.D.
4 3/8 - 4 3/4 in. (36 grams total including package, 11.2-12.2 cm).
Comprising two large tablia in linen and wool, with one showing an image of a hare and the other one a lion; borders with geometric decorations. [2, No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1970s-1996.
Property of a North American collector.
London collection, 2016.
Cf. Del Francia Barocas, L., Museo dell'Alto Medioevo, Roma, I materiali Copti, p.98, for similar textile.
FootnotesThe theme of rabbits or hares, in association with other characters and animals of the Dionysian thiasos (here a lion), in a hunting setting, has notable parallels. Such representations are linked to narratives of the Dionysian cycle.
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Egyptian 'Becker' Serpentine Vessel
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, circa 1450 B.C.Estimate: £3,000 - 4,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,600
Piriform jar with wide, flat rim and short neck, narrow neck and flat base. 1.2 kg, 15.5 cm
Ex Becker collection, 1920s. Private collection, Los Angeles, USA, 1990s. Private European collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12576-232111. -
Large Egyptian Bronze Wepwawet Amulet
Third Intermediate-Late Period, 1069-332 B.C.Estimate: £3,500 - 4,500 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,750
Showing the jackal deity Wepwawet standing with ears pricked on a sledge, the slender body modelled with long legs and a tail, suspension loop on the back; two rearing cobras before the jackal; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 54 grams, 91 mm (162 grams total, 11.7 cm including stand )
Ex Dr R. and Mrs L.B., Zumikon, Switzerland. with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12627-236406.
Wepwawet, meaning "Opener of the Ways," was an ancient Egyptian god associated primarily with warfare, protection, and funerary practices. Depicted as a jackal or a man with a jackal's head—often mistaken for Anubis—Wepwawet was believed to guide souls through the afterlife and open paths both in battle and in the spiritual realm. He originated in Asyut (ancient Lycopolis) in Upper Egypt and was one of the oldest deities in the Egyptian pantheon, with worship dating back to at least the First Dynasty (c. 3100–2900 BCE). Over time, Wepwawet became closely linked to Anubis, and the two were sometimes conflated, though Wepwawet retained his distinct identity as a god who preceded and cleared the way. In military contexts, Wepwawet was invoked to "open the way" for pharaohs and armies, ensuring victory and safe passage. In funerary texts, he was described as clearing the path to the afterlife, acting as a scout or guide for the deceased. -
Romano-Egyptian Mosaic Glass Fragments
Circa 1st century A.D.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
Including geometric and other patterns. 18 grams total, 5-30 mm
Ex Gallery Mikazuki prior to 1984. Propery of a London, UK, gentleman.