Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 0402
Egyptian Faience Triad Amulet
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C.
1 1/4 in. (8.56 grams, 33 mm).
Depicting in high-relief the Osirian triad (Isis, Horus, Nephthys) standing side by side on an integral plinth against a dorsal pillar; Nephthys (right) and Isis (left) are shown frontally, wearing headdresses with their specific attributes, each holding the hands of the central Horus figure, shown naked and with the side-lock of youth; a ribbed loop at the top for suspension.
Provenance
From the collection of a Swedish noble family, 1920s.
Literature
Cf. Camino, L., Papier-Lecostey, C., Collections égyptiennes du musée Antoine Vivenel de Compiègne, Compiègne, 2007, p. 172, nos. 190-191, for two comparable faience triads.
Footnotes
Isis and Nephthys operate as complementary sister deities who guard both Osiris and the deceased through mourning, magical protection, and ritual lamentation, while Horus, the child of Isis, signifies renewal and legitimate kingship. On amulets, the triad translates into a compact visual statement of protection: the deceased is imagined as being held within the sisters’ magical and ritual care, while Horus embodies the successful outcome of that protection in the form of rebirth and continuity.
CONDITIONVETTING:
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 0402
Egyptian Faience Triad Amulet
Estimate £400 - 600€460 - 700 (for guidance only)$540 - 810 (for guidance only)
RELATED LOTS
-
Egyptian Faience Lion's Head Amulet
Roman Period, 30 B.C.-323 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Modelled frontally with a radiating mane framing the face, pierced horizontally. 1.23 grams, 14.8 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Large Egyptian Bronze Wepwawet Amulet
Third Intermediate-Late Period, 1069-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,200
Showing the jackal deity Wepwawet standing with ears pricked on a sledge, the slender body modelled with long legs and a tail, suspension loop on the back; two rearing cobras before the jackal; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 54 grams, 91 mm (162 grams total, 11.7 cm including stand )
Ex Dr R. and Mrs L.B., Zumikon, Switzerland. with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12627-236406.
This object may have been the decorative element of a ceremonial standard, examples of which have survived (cf. Petrie, W.M.F., Tanis: Part II / Nebesheh (Am) and Defenneh (Tahpanhes), London, 1886, pl. VII, no. 3). Wepwawet, meaning "Opener of the Ways," was an ancient Egyptian god associated primarily with warfare, protection, and funerary practices. Depicted as a jackal or a man with a jackal's head—often mistaken for Anubis—Wepwawet was believed to guide souls through the afterlife and open paths both in battle and in the spiritual realm. He originated in Asyut (ancient Lycopolis) in Upper Egypt and was one of the oldest deities in the Egyptian pantheon, with worship dating back to at least the First Dynasty (c. 3100–2900 BCE). Over time, Wepwawet became closely linked to Anubis, and the two were sometimes conflated, though Wepwawet retained his distinct identity as a god who preceded and cleared the way. In military contexts, Wepwawet was invoked to "open the way" for pharaohs and armies, ensuring victory and safe passage. In funerary texts, he was described as clearing the path to the afterlife, acting as a scout or guide for the deceased. -
Framed Egyptian Faience Eye of Horus Amulet
Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
The amulet in blue-green faience with black detailing, set in a glazed wooden frame with modern papyrus backing. 207 grams total, 12.2 x 12.3 cm including frame
Acquired from Ancient Art, London, UK. From the collection of a Nottingham, UK, collector, established from the early 2000s. Accompanied by the original Ancient Art certificate of authenticity.
