Egyptian Faience and Glass Bead Group

An acephalic seated nude statuette of Horus-Harpocrates, legs held together and arms by his side, semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing; cleaned. 1.67 kg total, 22 cm high (26 cm high including stand)



Collection of Brugsch Pasha (1842-1930). with Hotel Drouot, Paris, 30 September 1997, no.643. Ex property of Mr Naudy. Property of a French collector.

Horus, son of Isis and Osiris, was considered a solar deity who overcame darkness and defeated the chaotic forces of his evil uncle, the god Seth. Egyptian pharaohs considered themselves to be reincarnations of Horus. In his youthful form, Horus the child embodies the new sun and all associated benefits. In Graeco-Roman Egypt he became Harpocrates, son of Serapis and Isis, the deity-symbol of rebirth and fertility, perhaps the most popular deity to be represented in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt.

Restrung netted beadwork panel of annular and tubular glazed composition beads in blues, greens, black, cream and red-brown colours, depicting a mummy face mask with false beard, a scarab with extended wings below, the 'Four Sons of Horus’ beneath the scarab, joined together with areas of open netting of tubular beads; mounted in a glazed frame with papyrus backing. 127 grams, 28 cm



Previously with Mariaud de Serres, Paris, France. From a Paris gallery.

The Four Sons of Horus were deities responsible for protecting the internal organs of the deceased. The human-headed Imsety protected the liver, the baboon-headed Hapy protected the lungs, the jackal-headed Duamutef protected the stomach, and the falcon-headed Qebehsenuef protected the intestines.

Restrung using mainly annular and tubular beads; central feature a large pendant depicting the god Horus in falcon form, intricate feather detailing to the wings and back, long talons gripping the rectangular platform. 14.6 grams, 26 cm



From the vendor's grandfather's collection, formed in the 1950s; thence by family descent circa 1974.