Egyptian Faience Shabti Group

A fitting or pommel made for King Ramesses II, his throne name (User-Maat-Re Setep-en-Re) inscribed within a cartouche topped by two ostrich feathers framing a solar disc; the cartouche positioned above the hieroglyphic sign nbw, which signifying 'gold' and alluded to the luminous radiance of the royal name; two uraei flanking the cartouche, wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt and the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, respectively; the throne name roughly translating as 'The justice of Re is powerful, chosen of Re'; a square-shaped socket located at the back for attachment; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 475 grams total, 14 cm including stand



Formerly with G. Janes, Manchester, UK and collection Galerie Nefer. Previously with Cybele Galerie Librairie Egyptologie, Paris, France. From an important English collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Alberto Maria Pollastrini. Accompanied by a copy of the Cybele invoice. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.10740-177442.

The epithet part of the throne name Setep en Re appears in Ramesses II's royal titulary from Year 2 of his reign. The two rearing cobras, which symbolise the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, also represent the unity of the Two Lands under Ramesses II's rule. A similar green faience fitting bearing Ramesses II's throne name is kept in the Archaeological Collection of Zürich (inv. no. 3702). Similar objects linked to the 18th Dynasty kings Akhenaten and Ay show that such fittings were not limited to the 19th Dynasty. They may even have influenced later designs, as the fitting of King Ay, possibly from a piece of heirloom furniture, was found among the tomb goods of Nefertari, Ramesses II’s “Chief Queen”.

Of squat profile with flattened base, flat shoulder and rounded rim. 574 grams, 11.5 cm wide



From a West Country, UK, collection, 1980-2020s.

Dark green hardstone with paler speckles; with a boldly carved head, clypeus, prothorax and elytra, and legs indicated at the sides; plain underside. 17 grams, 29 mm



Ex Irene Newman, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex, England. with Stride & Son Auctioneers, Chichester, West Sussex, England, 23 April 2015, no.1599 [Part]. Acquired by the present owner at the above sale.

The scarab, which represented the dung beetle, was the most popular amulet in ancient Egypt for approximately two thousand years until the Ptolemaic Period when it gradually fell out of favour. The popularity of scarabs extended beyond the borders of Egypt, and they were also distributed and produced in other regions, such as Phoenicia and Israel. The beetle is named khepri, derived from the verb 'to come into existence', and was considered the embodiment of the creator god Khepri, who was self-engendered. The ancient Egyptians mistakenly believed that the young beetle emerging from the dung ball was the result of an act of self-creation.