Egyptian Faience Mummy Bead Face Mask

Carved with simple body and eye detailing and polished; drilled through the eyes for suspension. 0.56 grams, 14 mm



Ex early 20th century Home Counties, UK, collection.

Decorated using turquoise glaze and painted face, collar and hand detailing, wearing short wig and Sidelock of Youth (typical of a Sem priest); column of hieroglyphs to the lower body reading 'King's son, Sem priest of Ptah Khaemwaset, true of voice'; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 55 grams, 11.6 cm (159 grams total, 13 cm high including stand)



Acquired on the London art market, early 1980s. Private European collection. Accompanied by an academic report 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.11837-206506.

There are various short inscriptions found on faience shabtis of Khaemwaset. The inscription on this shabti is notable for including the uncommon possessive element 'of Ptah' following the writing of 'Sem(-priest)'. It features on none of the inscriptions on the 43 published faience shabtis in the Louvre, but is found on an alabaster shabti of Khaemwaset in the Vatican's Museo Gregoriano Egizio (inv.no.19332). Also, the arm sign serving as a phonetic complement in the writing of his name is fairly uncommon on his faience shabtis, although it is found, for instance, in the inscriptions on two in the Louvre (inv.nos. N 456 A and N 768.14) and on another in the Amasis Collection (inv.no.S-1577).

Striding on a rectangular base, right arm held by her side, the other wrapped around her torso; wearing a modius of cobras topped by a horned sun disc; turquoise glaze; with reverse suspension loop. 4.87 grams, 52 mm



Acquired in Europe before 1998.