Egyptian Decorated Alabaster Alabastron

With a thick and lustrous turquoise glaze, sporting a tripartite wig highlighted in darker blue glaze, and a long beard; holding a pick, hoe and a cord for a seed bag hanging over the left shoulder; raised dorsal pillar and an integral plinth; repaired. 44 grams, 11.5 cm high



Ex collection of Jacques René Fiechter, Switzerland (1920-1950). with Auction Martin, Egyptian Collection André Bircher, 1949. Accompanied by an academic report by Egyptologist Paul Whelan.

The lack of inscription hinders positive identification, but the shabti’s proportions, elegant modelling, and lustrous glaze closely match others considered to have come from an area of the extensive necropolis at Abydos, labelled “Cemetery G” by its excavator Flinders Petrie, where hundreds of blue lustrous-glazed shabtis of varying qualities were recovered. This figure is closest in style to those belonging to Petosiris, son of Djed-hor. Both were buried with similar blue lustrous-glazed shabtis that were mostly plain although a few were inscribed with an inscription.

With painted detailing to the eyebrows, eyes and headband; flesh coloured pigment remaining on the nose and forehead; prominent nose and small mouth; pierced through the chin and forehead to accept attachment dowels. 223 grams, 18.5 cm high



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

The monkey holding a kohl pot of roughly cylindrical form; set on an integral oval base; rim of kohl perforated twice; mounted on a custom-made display base. 21.2 grams total, 37 mm high including stand



with François de Riqules, Archéologie, 11-12 November 2001, lot 198.