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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.
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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 Coptic Textile Fragment Group
Circa 4th-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Comprising: terminal part of a clavus from a tunic with an orbiculus, in purple wool on linen, embroidered with vegetal and floral motifs, framed by straight borders with external crenellation; a fragment of segmentum in yellow, green and red wool, S torsion, embroidered with floral and geometric patterns. 40 grams total including package, 17-20 cm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.
The fragments are decorative parts of tunics. These are fabrics of great decorative finesse, with some elements displaying an unusual and extremely well-preserved color palette. The plant designs recall Iranian motifs. -
Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
Circa 4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Comprising: fragment from a wide tunic segmentum in red granate and coarse linen, S torsion, embroidered with stylised birds and plants inscribed in tondos; fragment of another segmentum in red, blue and green wool, with representations of buds. 63 grams total including package, 19.5-25 cm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.
Similar figures are widely present in Coptic textiles, repeating a pattern in which flowers are usually paired with bird figures. This decoration is typical of tunics, but it was also used in large-scale textiles intended for domestic or funerary furnishings. -
Egyptian Black Stone Amulet with Cartouche
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
Carved in low relief with hieroglyphs to the sub-rectangular plaque, with two feathers above; integral pierced lug to reverse. 3.15 grams, 29.8 mm
with Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983. Ex private North American collection. London private collection, 2016.