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_900x900.jpg "Egyptian Diorite Heart Scarab")
_200x200.jpg "Egyptian Diorite Heart Scarab")
_900x900.jpg "Egyptian Diorite Heart Scarab")
_200x200.jpg "Egyptian Diorite Heart Scarab")
_900x900.jpg "Egyptian Diorite Heart Scarab")
_200x200.jpg "Egyptian Diorite Heart Scarab")
.jpg "Egyptian Diorite Heart Scarab")
.jpg "Egyptian Diorite Heart Scarab")
.jpg "Egyptian Diorite Heart Scarab")
LOT 0007
Egyptian Diorite Heart Scarab
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C.
1 in. (7.5 grams, 25 mm).
Finely carved, with naturalistic detailing to the upper body, legs shown folded beneath the body with suspension loop at centre.
ProvenanceFrom a 20th century UK collection.
FootnotesThe Egyptians saw the scarab as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. The beetle was associated with the sun god because scarabs roll large balls of dung in which to lay their eggs, a behaviour that the Egyptians thought resembled the progression of the sun through the sky from east to west. Scarab amulets were used for their magical rejuvenating properties by both the living and the dead. The regenerative powers of scarabs, such as the one offered here, could be used by either the living or the dead for healing and protection.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Egyptian Yellow Faience Pataikos Amulet
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Depicted nude and standing on a rectangular base, with a large head, and short arms resting above his bendy legs. 4.87 grams, 32 mm
From an early 20th century UK collection. Accompanied by a previously illustrated catalogue card with provenance.
Herodotus mentions Pataikos as a dwarf-like depiction of Ptah, although the ancient Egyptian name of the god remains unclear. These small amulets symbolise Ptah’s immense magical power, which helps to protect the wearer from dangerous creatures such as snakes and crocodiles. The role of the deity in the funerary sphere is explained in Spell 164 of the Book of the Dead, where Pataikos is invoked to safeguard the deceased’s heart against attacks by enemies and against the decay of the body. -
Egypto-Phoenician Agate Scarab
8th-6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Plano-convex in section with incised segmentation to the carapace, underside with two hatched avian figures; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 5.65 grams, 20 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
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Egyptian 'Becker' Serpentine Vessel
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, circa 1450 B.C.Estimate: £2,500 - 3,500 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,250
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.
Three forms of serpentine were mainly used by the ancient Egyptians for stone vessels: a) green or grey serpentine with black veins; b) translucent green serpentine with black patches; c) granular black serpentine with intermixed grey or brown granules. Type a) serpentine, i.e. the green or grey one with black veins, has the longer time range, and was used for vessels from the Predynastic Period (Naqada II) through the New Kingdom. It was used for stone vessels, but also became common for statuettes and small toilet vessels. The class of green glazed kohl pots, many with carved or openwork decoration which are usually called ‘glazed steatite’ were more likely to be made of serpentine. The type here represented is a form known in the New Kingdom: a bag-shaped jar with neck, flat base, and wide thin rim. Similar vessels have been found in Thebes, Amarna, Kahun, among other localities.
