Egyptian Glass Bes Amulet in Gold Pin

LATE PERIOD-ROMAN PERIOD, 664 B.C.-323 A.D. AND LATER

2 in. (13.7 grams, 51.6 mm).

Comprising a large blue amulet of facing Bes with yellow highlighting, the grimacing god wearing a plumed headdress and depicted nude; set in a later gold casing with a plume-shaped red jasper insert, an articulated pin attachment on the reverse.

Provenance

Ex AH collection, London, UK, 1980s.

Accompanied by a previous cataloguing slip.

Literature

Cf. Lacovara, P., and Markowitz, Y.J., Jewels of the Nile: Ancient Egyptian Treasures from the Worcester Art Museum, Worcester MA, 2020, pp.110-111, no.6, for a comparable blue faience Bes with yellow decoration.

Footnotes

Despite his rather fearful appearance, Bes was the patron and protector of pregnant women and children. He was also believed to provide protection from snakes.

CONDITION

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LOT 0461