Egyptian Faience Ramesses II Offering Cup

Squat ovoid in profile, modelled with the legs folded beneath the body, with hollow socket eyes, flared rim to mouth; copper lug on either side. 165 grams, 63 mm



Ex collection of Madame Kismet Pilati, acquired in Vienna and London in 1976. with Bonhams, London, 24th October 2012, no.284 (£30,000-£50,000). Property of a London lady, part of her family's Swiss collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Egyptologist Paul Whelan. 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 search certificate no.12101-213115.

With segmented carapace, plain underside. 4.45 grams, 18 mm



From the property of the late Mr SM, London, UK, 1969-1999.

Restrung using polychrome mummy beads of annular and tubular types. 26.7 grams, 74 cm long



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 the territory in modern Turkey, and aqua-green turquoise from the Sinai. They were worn in life and, after death, they served as precious ornamentation for mummies.