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LOT 0011
Egyptian Hardstone Scarab
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C.
1 in. (10.1 grams, 27 mm).
With detailed clypeus and head, raised ridge separating the wing case, resting on an oval base with plain underside.
ProvenanceFrom the property of a London, UK, gentleman, 1970-2000s.
FootnotesThe scarab, which represented the dung beetle, was the most popular amulet in ancient Egypt for approximately two thousand years until the Ptolemaic Period when it gradually fell out of favour. The popularity of scarabs extended beyond the borders of Egypt, and they were also distributed and produced in other regions, such as Phoenicia and Israel. The beetle is named khepri, derived from the verb 'to come into existence', and was considered the embodiment of the creator god Khepri, who was self-created. The ancient Egyptians mistakenly believed that the young beetle emerging from the dung ball was the result of an act of self-creation.
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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LOT 0011
Egyptian Hardstone Scarab
Estimate £500 - 700€580 - 810 (for guidance only)$680 - 950 (for guidance only)
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Egyptian Glass Eyes
Late-Ptolemaic Period, circa 664-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Comprising two blue-rimmed eyes with black pupil and cream sclera, and a blue eyebrow. 2.82 grams total, 23-24 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. -
Egyptian Gold Ring with Agate Bull
New Kingdom, 1550-1292 B.C.Estimate: £6,000 - 8,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £3,250
Comprising a round-section swivel ring set with a carved Apis bull depicted recumbent with its head turned to right. 4.71 grams, 27.98 mm overall, 19.07 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)
Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12939-245988.
The Apis bull was a sacred animal in ancient Egyptian religion, worshipped as a living manifestation of the god Ptah and later associated with Osiris and Ra. Regarded as an intermediary between the gods and humanity, the Apis bull was chosen based on specific physical characteristics, such as a black coat with unique white markings. Once identified, it was housed in a grand temple in Memphis, where it was treated with great reverence, adorned with jewellery, and participated in important religious ceremonies. Upon its death, the bull underwent elaborate mummification and burial rituals, symbolising its transition to the afterlife and its continued divine role. The cult of the Apis bull highlights the Egyptians’ deep connection to animals as symbols of divine power and their belief in the interconnectedness of the mortal and spiritual worlds. -
Egyptian Amulet Collection
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Mainly heart-type amulets in various materials. 14.85 grams total, 20-26 mm
with Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983. Ex private North American collection. London private collection, 2016.