Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 0524

Egyptian Faience Mummy Bead Mask with Scarab and Four Sons of Horus

PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, 332-30 B.C.

9 1/2 in. (100 grams, 24 cm).

A 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. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Ex North London, UK, gallery.
Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

Literature

Cf. Manley, B. and Dodson, A., Life Everlasting. National Museums Scotland Collection of Ancient Egyptian Coffins, Edinburgh, 2010, p.114, no. 43, for a bead shroud with similar elements.

Footnotes

The Four Sons of Horus were deities responsible for protecting the deceased's internal organs. 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.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine 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:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 0524

Egyptian Faience Mummy Bead Mask with Scarab and Four Sons of Horus

Sold for (Inc. bp): £780

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Egyptian Multi-Stranded Mummy Bead Necklace
    Egyptian Multi-Stranded Mummy Bead Necklace
    Late Period, 664-332 B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £468

    Four-stranded designer necklace composed of polychrome beads of mainly disc and cylindrical types. 28.5 grams, 74 cm



    Acquired before 1979. From the private collection of Mr F.A., South Kensington, London, UK; thence by descent 2014.

    For thousands of years, artisans in Egypt created vibrant ceramics to echo the beauty of rare jewels. These ornaments were created with almost every material, colour, and texture imaginable and they come from across Egypt and beyond: vibrant blue lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, glossy black obsidian from Turkey, and aqua-green turquoise from the Sinai. They were worn in life and, after death, they served as precious ornamentation for mummies.

    Lot Details

  • Egyptian Brown Quartzite Figure of the Baboon God Thoth
    Egyptian Brown Quartzite Figure of the Baboon God Thoth
    New Kingdom, circa 1550-1070 B.C.

    Estimate: £5,000 - 7,000 (‡+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £2,778

    Carved in a typical pose, sitting on its haunches with its tail curving around the right side, its front paws resting on its knees and protruding beneath its thick furry pelt, with incised detailing, its feet either side of the phallus, the head with bulbous, striated hair on either side, chipped, snout restored; seated on a high shrine-shaped plinth with squared front and rounded back, featuring a cavetto cornice and roll detailing on the upper part. 1.15 kg, 15 cm



    From a deceased American estate, 1970-1989. with Bonhams, London, 28 October 2009, no.35. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12368-226706.

    The baboon was an animal manifestation of the god Thoth, the patron deity of Hermopolis Magna, who was revered for his association with knowledge, writing, and healing.

    Lot Details

  • Egyptian Blue and Ochre Faience Shabti
    Egyptian Blue and Ochre Faience Shabti
    Late Period, 4th century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £72

    Plano-convex in section with mould-formed facial detailing, crossed arms and agricultural tools. 12.9 grams, 67 mm



    Ex private collection, London, UK, 1970s-1990s.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list