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LOT 0047
Egyptian Green Jasper Bes Cosmetic Pot
LATE PERIOD-PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, 6TH-2ND CENTURY B.C.
2 5/8 in. (188 grams, 66 mm).
Carved in the round figure of Bes sitting on an ellipsoid base; the god in crouching pose wearing a lionskin girdle, his forearms on his thighs and hands holding the pierced lug handles of a storage jar; the jar and Bes's head topped by a low square modius with a round opening to the top.
ProvenanceEarly 20th century South East England, UK, collection.
Formerly in North American collection, 1990s.
From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman.
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 a search certificate number no.12376-225408.
Cf. Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, item 96(e) for a less elaborate vessel in the shape of Bes; Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst, Munich (inv. no. ÄS 4868), for a similarly themed Bes-form cosmetic vessel from the New Kingdom.
FootnotesThis vessel's style continues that of New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period kohl (eye paint) or unguent Bes-shaped containers, suggesting that it served as a household object rather than an item of funerary equipment.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Phoenician-Iberian Stone Head of a Lady
Circa 600 B.C. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £208
Carved in the round with hatched hair and low-relief facial features; mounted on a custom-made stand. 857 grams total, 17 cm high including stand
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. -
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Egyptian Limestone Relief of a Ptolemaic King
Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £14,300
Trapezoidal fragment bearing a low-relief depiction of a Ptolemaic king shown in profile, with characteristic plump cheeks, slightly upturned mouth, and internally detailed ear, wearing a long false beard, the Red or Dual Crown of Egypt with uraeus to the front, and a broad collar; the lower part of a cartouche to the right. 405 grams, 11 cm
Léon Rodrigues-Ely (1924–1973), Marseille, France. with Christie's, Paris, 6 May 2015, no.93. Private collection, Europe. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00104585. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12369-226941.
Léon Rodrigues-Ely (1924–1973) was a prominent French collector based in Marseille, known for his keen interest in fine art and antiquities. Throughout his life, Rodrigues-Ely assembled an eclectic and esteemed collection, particularly focusing on European and Mediterranean artifacts. His passion for collecting was fuelled by a deep appreciation for history and culture, and he was well-regarded among art dealers and scholars alike. Many of the pieces in his collection were acquired from significant galleries and private collections across Europe, reflecting his dedication to preserving cultural heritage. Rodrigues-Ely’s collection continued to be highly sought after following his death, with several pieces passing through prestigious auction houses, cementing his legacy in the art world. -
Egyptian Pre-Dynastic Greywacke Palette
Predynastic Period, Naqada III, circa 3300–2960 B.C.Estimate: £500 - 700 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £250
Circular in plan with smoothed faces, pierced through the edge. 238 grams, 13.3 cm
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.
Palettes were utilitarian objects used in the Predynastic Period to grind and mix mineral-based eye pigments (including ochre, malachite, and haematite). Greywacke cosmetic palettes were easily carved in various shapes and sizes, including zoomorphic representations and geometric forms. The symbolism of this circular palette may be connected to the sun disc, which featured prominently in ancient Egyptian culture. The palette was so significant in Predynastic society that purely ceremonial versions, often impractically large for their original purpose, were produced for use in temple rituals. The most famous is the highly decorated Narmer Palette discovered at Hierakonpolis.
