Egyptian Glazed Faience Bead and Amulet Collection

Comprising a fragment of a clavus in white and purple linen and wool, S torsion, the central scene representing a dancer; a small fragment of a double segmenta, ornamented with vegetal embroidery; two orbiculi, one embroidered with a flower inside a rondo and with a cross in the centre, the other with a simple vegetal ornament. 40 grams total including package, 7.2-15.7 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

The segmentum with the dancer was probably part of the vertical clavus of a tunic; it is highly probable that the embroidery refers to the Dionysian cycle, with dancers, animals and probably, in the missing parts, hunters.

Crouched figure of a human-headed Ba-bird on a rectangular base, carved in the round. 0.62 grams, 9.8 mm



with Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983. Ex private North American collection. London private collection, 2016.

Comprising: a large fragment of a segmentum in white and red linen and wool, S torsion, borders embroidered with meanders, the central scene representing running hares; a purple on linen fragment of a clavus representing a dancer, borders with geometric decoration; and a large fragment of a tablion, ornamented with images of fishes, birds and vegetal patterns in red, green, yellow and dark blue wool, the central tondo missing. 66 grams total including package, 14.3-20.3 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

Water plant elements are scattered across the bottom of the tablion, which is decorated with water birds; these decorations likely surrounded the image of a nereid. These abstract decorations show a strong stylisation often giving the marine animals a plant-like appearance.