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LOT 0034
Egyptian Lapis Lazuli Amulet of a Djed Pillar
NEW KINGDOM, 18TH DYNASTY, CIRCA 1550-1295 B.C.
2 in. (2 1/2 in.) (4.84 grams, 49 mm (8.6 grams total, 64 mm including stand)).
Carved as a square-section column with transverse ribs and a decorative finial, incised transverse lines to the body; mounted on a custom-made display stand.
ProvenanceEx R. Liechti (1934-2010) collection, Geneva, Switzerland.
Private collection, Europe.
Cf. National Museums Liverpool, accession no.M11918a, for a later example in lapis lazuli.
FootnotesThe djed pillar signifies the concepts of 'enduring' and 'stability' and was a common funerary amulet from the Old Kingdom onwards. It was first associated with the gods Ptah and Sokar but later became a symbol of Osiris, representing the god's backbone. In this context, the djed pillar appears in Chapter 155 of the Book of the Dead, concerned with the deceased's resurrection.
R. Liechti was a distinguished collector of Egyptian antiquities, known for his discerning eye and passion for ancient artefacts. Active during the mid-20th century, Liechti's collection featured a wide range of objects that showcased the rich cultural heritage of ancient Egypt, from intricately carved statuettes to rare amulets and jewellery. His dedication to preserving and studying these relics earned him a respected reputation among scholars and collectors alike. Many pieces from his collection have since found their way into prominent museum collections and auction houses, further solidifying his legacy in the world of antiquities.
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AUCTIONS:
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Phoenicio-Egyptian Dark Green Stone Scarab
Circa 6th-4th century B.C.Estimate: £250 - 350 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £139
With textured carapace, bull-horned column to the reverse. 3.94 grams, 15 mm
From the property of the late Mr SM, London, UK, 1969-1999.
The widespread adoption of the scarab, both as a symbol linked to the concept of rebirth, and in its function as a seal, exemplifies the extent of Egyptian influence on Phoenician culture, from its origins in the Levant to its spread across the Mediterranean. -
Egyptian Faience Shabti for Hor-sa-Iset
Late Period, circa 4th century B.C.Estimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
Of mummiform type, wearing a tripartite wig and long plaited divine beard; holding a pick in the left hand, a hoe in the right, and the cord of a seed bag hanging over his left shoulder; standing on an integral plinth, a plain back pillar terminating at the base of the wig; two vertical panels of hieroglyphic inscription to the front, including dedication: sḥḏ wsỉr ḥr sꜢ Ꜣst, ‘The illuminated, the Osiris, Hor-sa-Iset’; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 124 grams, 15.2 cm
Jacques René Fiechter, Switzerland (1920-1950). with Auction Martin, Egyptian collection of André Bircher, 1949. with Cahn Auktionen AG, Basel, 5 November 2011, no.20. Private collection, Europe. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Cahn catalogue pages. -
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Egyptian Bronze Figure of Harpocrates
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,250
Seated nude statuette of Harpocrates, with legs together and left arm by his side, right arm bent across the chest with forefinger raised to his lips, wearing a nemes headdress with uraeus on the front and a bold sidelock on the right side, surmounted by an elaborate hem-hem crown consisting of three conical atef crowns each topped with a sun disc, with an ostrich plume to the side of the outermost, and flanked by two uraei with sun discs, all supported on two horizontal ram's horns; semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing; feet resting on an integral square plinth, mounted on a wooden stand. 584 grams, 18.5 cm
Ex pre-war collection, Switzerland. Private collection, Europe. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00075707. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12371-226682.
Harpocrates is the Greek rendering of the Egyptian Hor-pa-khered, which translates as 'Horus the Child'. This refers to Horus as the divine infant of Isis and Osiris. Statuettes of Harpocrates could provide the dedicator with the same protection that Isis gave her beloved son.
