Egyptian Faience Bead Necklace

In silk and wool from a tunic or wall hanging, comprising: (i) a corner fragment of a tapestry showing two soldiers hunting, one with a cross traced as deigmaton on the round shield and a semi-spatha (sword) in his right hand, both dressed in Gothic tunics of green and off-white colour, black trousers and red sagia, escaping animals surrounding; (ii) a long segment (clavus) with a hunting scene comprising a cavalryman in green mantle, off-white tunic, shield and sword, a Nubian servant in exomis and holding a shield, chasing wild horses, antelopes, goats and hares, a third horseman half-visible on the right. 8 grams total, 19-26 cm

Fair condition. Rare.

Hermann Historica, Germany, auction 67, part of lot 2025. Property of a Kensington gentleman. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato of which this is a part. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.10681-174371 (part).

Tabby technique on linen and wool. It is highly probable that this tapestry was part of a tunic decoration, the clavus (ii) running vertically on the breast; the corner fragment (i) forming the lower hem of the tunic. The representation of military characters, the red colour of the background, and the hunting parties – often associated with military training– indicate the likelihood that these are fragments from the military tunic of a high-ranking officer.

From mummy wrappings, Horus falcon with spread wings wearing a sun disc and gripping a shen symbol in each claw; applied to a woven fabric backing; held in a membranous display frame. 25 grams total, 70 x 70 mm including case



From a Spanish collection, formerly with a German dealership in the 1980s.

Similar in form to the elaborate inlaid gold pectoral discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamun, for which see Andrews, C., Ancient Egyptian Jewellery, p.134, no. 117.

Standing in advancing pose on a rectangular base; the god modelled with a disk representing the full-moon surmounting a crescent new moon atop his head and fronted by a uraeus, the falcon-head sports a finely striated tripartite wig and with beaded silver wire frames to the (once inlaid) eyes; wearing a broad wesekh collar; the left arm bent and fist drilled to grip a staff, right arm straight to the side with similar drilled fist; pleated shendyt kilt and belt to the hips; mounted on a tiered socle base. 896 grams total, 27 cm including stand

Very fine condition.

Smith family collection, Cambridge, UK since 1949. Private UK collection since 1978. Accompanied by a scholarly note by Egyptologist Paul Whelan. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11033-183985.

The moon god Khonsu (whose name means 'wanderer', referring to the passage of the moon across the sky) is known as a blood-thirsty sky-deity in the Pyramid Texts. In New Kingdom Thebes, however, he was regarded as a far more benevolent deity, being the child of Amun and Mut, and provided with his own temple at Karnak. There, he was considered to control destiny. Khonsu can appear in human form with a side-lock of youth, wearing an enveloping garment, and holding royal regalia, and also as a falcon-headed man with the full moon and crescent new moon headdress, as with this fine example. In his falcon-headed form he frequently holds an ankh symbol and a was-sceptre, for which the hands of this piece were drilled to accept the god's well-known attributes.