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LOT 0491
Egyptian Faience Fish Amulet
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C.
1 3/4 in. (3.20 grams, 43 mm).
Tilapia fish modelled in the round; tail restored. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the collection of Doctor Girard, a collector for over 60 years.
with Hotel des Ventes de Clermont-Ferrand, 22 May 2017.
Property of a French collector.
Cf. Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, pl.93(c).
FootnotesThis amulet represents a ‘Tilapia nilotica’ or ‘bolti’, a prevalent fish species found in the Nile. Not only was it esteemed for its delicious taste, but it was also revered as a symbol of rebirth and resurrection due to its unique ability to carry its eggs in its mouth, suggesting self-creation.
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 Hardstone Fly Amulet
Late Period, 664-332 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
With linear detailing to body and wings, pierced at the neck. 0.38 grams, 12 mm
From the H.N. collection, Milton Keynes, Berkshire, UK, 1990s.
Fly amulets were believed to protect against insect bites and ward off flying creatures through apotropaic magic. Additionally, the pharaoh would give gold fly-shaped pendants as military awards to recognise the bravery and persistence of soldiers in battle. -
Egyptian Woven Reed Basket
New Kingdom, 1539-1075 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
Squat in profile with wide mouth, tinted cross to the underside; old collector's label '1766' inside. 119 grams, 11.3 cm
Ex Bretagne Encheres, Hotel des Ventes de Rennes, France, 2005-2006. Property of a French collector. -
Egyptian Faience Djed Pillar Amulet Group
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
Each a square-section column with flared base, transverse ribs, pierced at the top. 1.29 grams total, 23 mm each
From the collection of Doctor Girard, a collector for over 60 years. with Hotel des Ventes de Clermont-Ferrand, 22 May 2017. Property of a French collector.
The djed pillar signifies the concepts of 'enduring' and 'stability' and was a common funerary amulet from the Old Kingdom onwards. It was first associated with the gods Ptah and Sokar but later became a symbol of Osiris, representing the god's backbone. In this context, the djed pillar appears in Chapter 155 of the Book of the Dead, concerned with the deceased's resurrection.
