Egyptian Gold Uraeus Amulet

Chevron-shaped pendant with incised detailing to the body and wings. 1.76 grams, 17 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.

Considering that Egyptian artists often depicted fly whisks in the hands of pharaohs and high officials, one might assume that flies were merely a nuisance. However, the Egyptians held flies in high regard due to their quick speed, reactions, and persistence. Small fly amulets first appeared in burials during the Naqada II Period, around 3200 B.C. These amulets grew in popularity, and the materials used to make them expanded during the New Kingdom. They are crafted from various materials such as gold, silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian, amethyst, faience, and bone. These amulets were believed to protect against insect bites and to ward off troublesome flying creatures through apotropaic magic. Some believe they may have even been intended to symbolise the fly’s fecundity. Additionally, pharaohs would bestow gold, fly-shaped pendants as military awards to honour the bravery and fly-like persistence of soldiers in battle.

With incised hatched motif to underside. 2.96 grams, 18 mm



with Artemis Gallery, Munich, Germany, 1998. Private collection, Europe. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising a cream-coloured crescent-shaped boat manned by a crew of seven oarsmen, each with a short black wig, their bodies painted in reddish-brown and wearing cream-coloured kilts; all with pivoting arms and with hands drilled to accept oars (now missing); an outline around the boat's deck and a net pattern at the prow and stern in red; a portion of an inward slanting stern post remains, with traces of another at the prow; the oarsmen re-affixed. 1.29 kg, 41.5 cm wide



Acquired in the 1960s. From the collection of the late Egyptologist Surgeon Commander P.H.K. Gray RN. From a Surrey, UK, collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Egyptologist Paul Whelan. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11943-209563. 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.

Models of various boat types were sometimes provided for the same burial. For the different types see Winlock, H.E., Models of Daily Life in Ancient Egypt from the Tomb of Meket-Re' at Thebes, Cambridge MA, 1955, pp.92-103.