Egyptian Green Stone Baboon Statuette

Proof etching on laid paper of plate 16 from Vol .I of Description de l'Égypte : ou, Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. entitled Environs du Kaire. Plan particulier de l'île de Roudah, du vieux Kaire et du Gyzeh. 238 grams, 105.5 x 69.5 cm



From the collection of a North American priest. Acquired between 1981-1996. Property of a North American collector.

Produced between February 1802 and 1830 on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte; published between 1809 and 1828. Just 1,000 copies were distributed to various institutions, printed on laid paper with an 'Égypte ancienne et moderne' watermark. The book is subtitled Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l’expédition de l’Armée française, publié par les ordres de Sa Majesté l’Empereur Napoléon le Grand (Gathering of observations and discoveries which were made in Egypt during the expedition of the French army, published on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon the Great). It was the world's first encyclopedia devoted exclusively to the remains of ancient Egypt. The plates of this book are the first to present the archaeological sites of Thebes (Luxor). The papyrus manuscript was recovered from the underground chambers (hypogea).

Plaque with transverse piercing; four addorsed wedjat motifs with black detailing. 31.6 grams, 64 mm



Ex J Bird private collection. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

With rampant lion and statant winged gryphon. 8.35 grams, 21 mm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate, no.3095.WW. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12715-234628.