Egyptian Faience Mummy Bead Mask

Light blue faience mummiform shabti with details added in black line, adorned with a tripartite wig and collar, and the arms crossed over the chest with hands holding a pick and hoe, seed bag and water pots, the back decorated with a curved yoke with pots and a brick mould; a central panel of hieroglyphs on the lower half of the figure giving the dedication: sḥḏ wsı͗r ḳnw ḫꜤs mꜢꜤ ḫrw, ‘The illuminated one, the Osiris Qenu-khayes, true of voice’. 152 grams, 13 cm



Formerly in North American collection, 1990s. From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman.

Three fragments of tabby-weave linen fabric, two with embroidered ornament, one with a woven polychrome border; mounted in a glazed wooden frame with gilt inner border. 578 grams total, fragments: 6.5-15.5 cm (frame: 26 x 31 cm)



From the private collection of H. Norry, 1980s-1990s.

Multi-stranded designer necklace composed of beads of mainly annular and tubular types. 23 grams, 78 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.