Egyptian Decorated Wooden Comb

Bifacial carved scaraboid; reverse with royal cartouche for Pharaoh Shabaka, flanked by the uraeus of Lower and Upper Egypt, surmounted by the Pharaonic epithet “King of the Upper and Lower Egypt” (“king of the reed” and “king of the bee”) and by the title “the son of Ra” and below, the sign of neb (damaged) “lord”; obverse with on the left, wedjat (winged cobra with the red crown – Lower Egypt), embracing with his wings shen (solar symbol) and in the centre, a lion with a ram's head, crowned and on the right, wedjat with the white crown of the Upper Egypt; on the upper section, a scarab with opened wings, instead of a lotus flower is depicted on the lower section. 7.65 grams, 27 mm



UK private collection before 2000. On the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12081-217354.

Stylised face with broad surrounding hood with corrugated texture to the outer face; lentoid face with reserved almond eyes, D-section nose and slit mouth; with arc of drilled holes around the inner edge of the hood to accept inset ornaments, more holes to the forehead, eyes, cheeks and chin; mounted on a custom-made stand. 2.92 kg total, 29 cm wide including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Carved with lightly incised carapace, chipped to the obverse; set in a 19th century gold frame. 12.45 grams, 52 mm



From an early 20th century collection.