Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 0452
Egyptian Faience Turtle Amulet
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C.
1/2 in. (0.76 grams, 11 mm).
Blue glazed turtle amulet or bead with flat base and incised lines to each leg, pierced for suspension.
Provenance
From an early 20th century collection.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Footnotes
Turtle amulets have a rich history in ancient Egypt. The turtle was considered to possess a dual character. On one hand, it lived in the dark depths, embodying cosmic danger and was ritually annihilated. On the other hand, its power could be harnessed to ward off evil and work to the advantage of people, making turtle amulets a potent symbol of protection.
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.
RELATED LOTS
-
Egyptian Heart Scarab Group
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Estimate: £150 - 200 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £75
Comprising two scarabs with striated wing cases and ribbed underside. 7.5 grams total, 18-20 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The scarab amulet was a powerful symbol of rebirth, transformation, and protection in ancient Egypt. Modelled after the beetle linked to the sun god Khepri, it represented the cycle of life and regeneration. Used from the Middle Kingdom (c. 2050 BCE) onwards, scarabs served as funerary amulets, personal charms, and seals—often inscribed with prayers or names—reflecting both spiritual beliefs and daily life. -
Egyptian Faience Duck Amulet
Third Intermediate-Late Period, 750-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
Modelled in the round, the head placed resting along the spine, loop formed by the neck; underside with hieroglyphic text. 1.18 grams, 15 mm
Old private French collection. Anonymous sale, Beaussant Lefevre, Paris, 2015. Private European collection, acquired in 2015. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Egyptian Banded Agate Kohl Pot
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Cone-shaped body with traces of lug handles on the upper third; narrow opening at the top with a thin, flattened rim. 94 grams, 75 mm
UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This vessel's unusual triangular shape is thought to be limited to the Late Period; other comparable examples are known (e.g., Barbotin, C., Collection égyptienne: Musée Granet - Aix-en-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, 1995, p. 166, no. 97).