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LOT 0009
Egyptian Green Glazed Faience Amulet of a Seated Sphinx
KUSHITE KINGDOM, 25TH DYNASTY, CIRCA 747-656 B.C.
2 in. (17.48 grams total, 51 mm including stand).
Figure of a sphinx in seated pose on a tongue-shaped base, with loop between the shoulders and Nubian hairstyle.
Provenancewith Charles Ede Ltd, London, UK.
Private collection, London, UK, acquired from the above on 28 April 1994.
Accompanied by a copy of the Charles Ede invoice.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, British Museum 1994, p.78, fig.78d, for a similar amulet.
FootnotesThe 'Nubian' hairstyle was worn by young women in connection with birth, nursing babies and applying cosmetics.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0009
Egyptian Green Glazed Faience Amulet of a Seated Sphinx
Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
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Phoenician Glass Eye Bead Fragments
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Glass fragments from spherical beads with eyes within a white panel on black field. 6.9 grams, 15-18 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. -
Phoenician Glass Bead Collection
6th-3rd century B.C. or laterEstimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
Comprising a group of crumb-decorated polychrome oblate beads and a centrepiece pendant formed as a stylised bearded head. 179 grams total, 12-42 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.
The Phoenicians, renowned seafarers and traders, were also skilled glassworkers. They produced a wide variety of glass beads using core-forming and winding techniques, with vivid colours and elaborate designs that reflect both technical mastery and cross-cultural influence. Among the most iconic Phoenician beads are glass 'head' beads, crafted in the form of stylised human or mythological faces. Typically, they feature exaggerated facial details like bulging eyes, large noses, beards, and headdresses, often with expressive or comic features. They were possibly worn as amulets to ward off evil or attract protection, though they may also represent deities, ancestors, or foreigners. These beads often incorporate Egyptian, Greek, and Near Eastern stylistic elements, reflecting the Phoenicians’ extensive trade networks. -
Egyptian Carnelian Frog Amulet
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
Carved in the round, pierced through the body for suspension. 298 grams, 19 mm
UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Frog amulets in ancient Egypt symbolised fertility, rebirth, and regeneration. Associated with the goddess Heqet, linked to childbirth and life-giving forces, these amulets were especially popular in contexts related to fertility and protection during pregnancy and childbirth. Their connection to the annual Nile flood, which brought new life to the land, further reinforced their symbolism of renewal and abundance.
