Egyptian Faience Bead Necklace String with Pectoral

Comprising a large blue amulet of facing Bes with yellow highlighting, the grimacing god wearing a plumed headdress and depicted nude; set in a later gold casing with a plume-shaped red jasper insert, an articulated pin attachment on the reverse. 13.7 grams, 51.6 mm



Ex AH collection, London, UK, 1980s. Accompanied by a previous cataloguing slip.

Despite his rather fearful appearance, Bes was the patron and protector of pregnant women and children. He was also believed to provide protection from snakes.

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 using mainly annular and tubular beads, with four larger oblate beads; central feature a large (5cm) Bes pendant, the god standing on a plinth and wearing an elaborate headdress. 18 grams, 56 cm



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

Bes became one of ancient Egypt's most popular apotropaic deities from the New Kingdom onwards. Despite his rather fearful appearance, Bes was the patron and protector of pregnant women and children. He was also believed to provide protection from snakes.