Egyptian Coptic Wall Tapestry Textile Fragment with Geometric Ornament

Slender olive-green mummiform shabti wearing a lappet wig and a false beard, with arms crossed, the left hand holding a pick and the right a hoe and the cord of a seed bag, which hangs from the back shoulder; with nine horizontal bands of deeply incised hieroglyphs on the lower body, giving the Book of the Dead spell and the names of the owner, Hornakht, and his mother, Nefertyti; supplied with a two-page printed report covering the transliteration and translation of the text; mounted on a custom-made stand with an old 'Ancient Egyptian B.C.900' label. 80.9 grams total, 16 cm high including stand



From the estate of a deceased Sussex private collector since the early 20th century. Accompanied by a copy of an illustrated academic report with translation by Simone Musso.

Slender wire hoop with ends coiled round the shank; swivel-mounted hollow-formed wedjat-eye forming the bezel. 1.10 grams, 22.15 mm overall, 18.22 x 18.65 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O 1/2, USA 7 1/4, Europe 15.61, Japan 15)



Acquired from Derek Content, 1 October 1983. Private collection of Kal Noselson, New York, acquired between 1976 and the late 1990s; thence by descent. Accompanied by an original invoice from Derek Content, dated 1 October 1983.

The wedjat-eye amulet represents the healed eye of the god Horus and embodies both human and falcon features. The name wedjat in ancient Egyptian means ‘the one that is sound’. According to Egyptian mythology, the god Seth wounded or took Horus' eye, and Thoth later restored it. The wedjat-eye amulet was believed to protect its wearer and bestow healing and regenerative qualities. It was a popular amuletic symbol worn by both the living and the dead and was reproduced in precious metals, stone, and faience.

With lightly incised anatomical detailing to the scarab; the underside with a central cartouche flanked by two rearing crowned uraei, a pair of falcons standing above the cartouche facing a smꜣ hieroglyph symbolising union (of the two lands, Upper and Lower Egypt); set into a later gold swivel ring. 4.34 grams, 26.44 mm overall, 15.68 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J 1/2, USA 5, Europe 9.32, Japan 9)



with Bonhams, London, UK, 21 October 1999, no.36. Private collection, Europe. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12370-226696.