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LOT 0485
Egyptian Faience Amulet of an Ibis
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C.
1 1/4 in. (3.54 grams, 31 mm).
An exquisitely modelled figure of a seated ibis on a trapezoidal-shaped plinth, with its beak resting on the slender feather of Maat; light turquoise glaze for the body, plinth, and feather; blue glaze for the tail feathers, feet and neck; head missing.
Provenancewith Bonhams, Knightsbridge, 3 October 2000, no.413.
Private collection, Europe.
Cf. Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, p.25 no. 21f, for a similar example.
FootnotesThe ibis was considered sacred to the god Thoth. It is likely that the popularity of amulets depicting an ibis resting its beak on the feather of Maat in the funerary sphere is connected to Thoth's role as the recorder of the final judgment of the deceased by the divine tribunal. This tribunal determined if the deceased had lived a virtuous life and could enter the Underworld. This was visually represented by the deceased's heart placed on scales with the feather of Maat; if the heart and feather balanced, eternity was assured.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0485
Egyptian Faience Amulet of an Ibis
Estimate £500 - 700€580 - 810 (for guidance only)$680 - 950 (for guidance only)
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Egyptian Faience Scarab with Hieroglyphs
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £624
Naturalistic detailing to the blue stained body and legs with section of openwork between the front and back legs; hieroglyphs on base giving the good luck message 'When Amun is behind you, do not fear'; pierced for suspension. 1.72 grams, 15 mm
Ex collection of Emil Saad, Paris-Alexandria. -
Egyptian Faience Bead and Scarab Group
Mainly Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising mainly blue tubular and annular beads, and a small Tawaret(?) amulet; a fragmentary glass bead(?) with some iridescence, a fragmentary scarab and a carnelian scarab with the throne name of Thutmose III, men-kheper-Re, to the underside, chipped. 8 grams total, 2-17 mm
Ex Belinda Elliston collection. -
Egyptian Limestone Relief Fragment
Old Kingdom, 2686-2181 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
Rectangular panel carved in sunk relief with vertical borders framing a portion of hieroglyphic inscription ...ḥry sštꜢ n..., '...keeper of secrets of...'. 6.79 kg total, 50.5 cm high including stand
Reputedly acquired by a private collector in 1936. Ex Ian Colverson Collection, UK (1940-2022). This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12196-222436.
The relief is most likely a fragment of a vertical inscription from a false door of an Old Kingdom tomb chapel. The complete inscription was probably an offering formula followed by a list of the tomb owner's titles. The 'keeper of secrets' is a priestly title indicating that one of his roles was as an embalmer.
