Egyptian Fishtail Flint Knife

CIRCA 3650-3300 B.C.

4 3/4 in. (142 grams total, 12 cm including stand).

Knapped bifacial tan knife with fishtail butt to receive a hilt; the rounded tip tapering and flaring along the edges; with a custom-made display stand.

Provenance

Collection of Maurice Bouvier, Alexandria, Egypt, then in Switzerland from 1959; thence by descent.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11834-207726.

Published

Page-Gasser, M. & Wiese, A.B., Égypte, Moments d'éternité, exhibition catalogue, Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Musée Rath, Geneva, 1997-1998, n° 9B.

Exhibited: Égypte, Moments d'éternité, Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig, 18 March-13 July 1997; Musée Rath, Geneva, 26 September 1997-11 January 1998.

Literature

See Berman, Lawrence M., Catalogue of Egyptian Art, Cleveland Museum of Art, 1999, Nos.62-64, for similar examples.

Footnotes

Many of these superbly crafted knives are attributed to the Naqada II period (c.3500-c.3200 BC), in Upper Egypt. They were normally used in the Opening of the Mouth ceremony.

CONDITION

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LOT 0006