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LOT 0005
Egyptian Glass Ring with Hathor Cameo
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, CIRCA 3RD CENTURY B.C.
1 1/2 in. (17.65 grams, 39.43 mm overall, 20.51 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J, USA 4 3/4, Europe 8.69, Japan 8)).
Pale green transparent glass hoop with ellipsoid bezel, bevelled edge inlaid with a darker glass low-relief facing mask of the goddess Hathor with cow's ears and banded hairstyle.
ProvenanceAcquired between 1965-2020.
Private collection, London.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12484-229828.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, items 16 & 24, for type.
FootnotesImages of Hathor with a human face and cow ears combine her human and bovine aspects. She is shown with a serene human face, symbolising her nurturing nature, while the cow ears emphasise her roles in fertility and motherhood.
Hathor was one of the most important deities in ancient Egypt, revered as the goddess of love, beauty, music, dance, fertility, and motherhood. She was also associated with joy, childbirth, and women’s health. Hathor was believed to protect and nurture, often depicted as a maternal figure. As such, she was closely linked with Isis. She was closely linked to the sun god Ra, acting as a cosmic force facilitating life. In funerary contexts, Hathor was also seen as a guide for the dead, helping them transition to the afterlife. Her multifaceted role made her one of Egypt's most widely worshipped goddesses.
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Egyptian Limestone Relief with the Figure of the God Hapi
Late-Ptolemaic Period, circa 664-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
A relief depicting the upper half of the Nile divinity facing right, sporting a slender beard with curved end, wearing a tripartite wig surmounted by a floral crown in the form of a clump of papyrus with bent buds, and an elaborate multi-strand beaded broad collar; the pendulous breast characteristic of this type of figure; with both upper arms angled right towards traces of a libation vase and possible stem of a lotus flower; traces of a vertical register line behind the figure’s head; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 10.85 kg total, 38.5 cm high including stand
From the estate of the late designer Anthony Powell (1935-2021). This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12497-230640. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Representations of fecundity figures can be traced from the Old Kingdom through to the Roman Period. These figures serve as divine embodiments of Egypt’s fertile productivity and are commonly depicted in series on the lower registers of temple walls, symbolising the fertility of each province. Historically, they have often been mistakenly referred to as the ‘Nile God’; however, the term Hapi, which sometimes identifies these figures, actually refers to the inundation rather than the River Nile itself, highlighting the source of Egypt’s fertility. -
Egyptian Ceramic Statuette of the God Bes Wearing a Feather Crown
Roman Period, 2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
Standing on a pillar and wearing a feather crown and a panther skin cloak, his hands resting on his knees, large protruding ears and grimacing expression. 362 grams, 24 cm
The Erotica Collection Christian von Faber-Castell, Küsnacgt ZH, Switzerland, since the late 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Christian von Faber-Castell (born 1950) is a renowned German entrepreneur and art collector, best known as a member of the prominent Faber-Castell family, famed for their iconic writing instruments. A passionate advocate for art and culture, Christian von Faber-Castell curated an extensive and diverse private collection of erotica spanning centuries and cultures. His collection reflects a deep appreciation for the interplay of beauty, sensuality, and artistic expression, bringing together rare and unique works that explore themes of intimacy and human connection. Pieces from this collection have been featured in notable exhibitions and are celebrated for their artistic and historical significance. This offering represents a rare opportunity to acquire works from one of the most fascinating and eclectic private collections of its kind. Bes became one of ancient Egypt's most popular apotropaic deities from the New Kingdom onwards. Despite his somewhat fearful appearance, Bes was the patron and protector of pregnant women and children and was also believed to protect from snakes. -
Egyptian Blue Glass Bead Bracelet
New Kingdom, circa 1400 B.C. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £221
Mainly blue glass biconvex and spherical beads; with old collector's card erroneously dated 'Ancient Egyptian Necklace. XII Dynasty'. 18 grams, 24 cm long
From a 19th century English collection. Ex Helios Gallery, Worcestershire, UK, 2011. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985. Accompanied by an old handwritten identification card. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
