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LOT 0437
Egyptian Cut-Glass Horus Amulet
1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
3/4 in. (3.3 grams, 21 mm).
Modelled in the round, a falcon perched on a rectangular base, with a pierced lug between the shoulders.
ProvenanceUK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Private collection, London.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. Aufrère, S., Collections des Musées départementaux de Seine-Maritime, Rouen, 1987, pp. 111-112, nos. 158-159, for similar amulets in stone.
FootnotesFalcon amulets in ancient Egypt symbolised protection, kingship, and divine power. Often associated with the god Horus, the falcon represented the sky, the sun, and the living pharaoh. These amulets were typically placed with the deceased to ensure protection in the afterlife and to invoke the strength and watchfulness of Horus. Worn in life or death, falcon amulets reflected royal authority and divine guardianship.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0437
Egyptian Cut-Glass Horus Amulet
Estimate £300 - 400€350 - 460 (for guidance only)$410 - 540 (for guidance only)
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Phoenician Bone Sphinx
5th century B.C.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £400
Seated with curving wings flanking the body and stocky body resting on over-sized lion-paws, small female head with rounded facial features and curly hair; hollow inside. 21.2 grams, 35 mm
Ex Dr Leo Mildenberg, Zurich, 1990s. with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Leo Mildenberg (1913–2001) was a distinguished numismatist and antiquities collector, widely recognised for his deep passion for ancient art, especially animal figures. Born in Germany and later based in Switzerland, Mildenberg built a renowned private collection that reflected his keen eye for craftsmanship and historical significance. His collection spanned cultures and periods, including Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek, and Roman artefacts, with a particular emphasis on zoomorphic sculptures and votive figures. Portions of Mildenberg’s collection have been exhibited in major museums and featured in auction catalogues that remain important reference sources for scholars and collectors alike. -
Egyptian Stone Tyet Amulet
Third Intermediate Period-Late Period, circa 743-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
Finely carved tyet amulet with incised internal detailing and ribbed suspension loop at the top. 38.9 grams, 81 mm
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The tyet amulet was associated with the goddess Isis and was often referred to as the 'knot' or 'girdle' of Isis. Some believe that it represents a bandage used to absorb menstrual blood. It was commonly placed within the mummy wrappings on the upper torso of the deceased, with the belief that it would invoke Isis' protection and safeguard the body, thus ensuring their rebirth in the afterlife. -
Egyptian Green Glazed Faience Amulet of a Seated Sphinx
Kushite Kingdom, 25th Dynasty, circa 747-656 B.C.Estimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
Figure of a sphinx in seated pose on a tongue-shaped base, with loop between the shoulders and Nubian hairstyle. 17.48 grams total, 51 mm including stand
with Charles Ede Ltd, London, UK. Private collection, London, UK, acquired from the above on 28 April 1994. Accompanied by a copy of the Charles Ede invoice. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The 'Nubian' hairstyle was worn by young women in connection with birth, nursing babies and applying cosmetics.
