Egyptian Lapis Lazuli Scarab

Possible fragment of tapestry or a cloak, light fabric, S-twist tapestry, ornamented with wool and linen flowers in red, green and yellow colour. 1.8 kg total, mount: 78 x 70 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

Most of the linen or wool garments found by A. Gayet in the Antinoe necropolis were woven in a specific pattern, in a single piece, on a horizontal warp. Another relatively common pattern for linen garments consisted of assembling three pieces woven on a single warp and forming the upper part of the garment, with the collar and sleeves.

With ribbed loop and ellipsoid face, gryphon motif. 10.9 grams, 26 mm wide



Ex London, UK, gentleman, 1990. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising: a large fragment of a segmentum in linen and wool, S torsion, fringed borders, embroidered with vegetal ornaments; a purple on linen tabula with geometric decoration; a fragment of a segmentum in wool and linen, with circular embroidery; and a large fragment of a tablion, ornamented with images of fishes, birds and vegetal patterns in red, green, yellow and dark blue wool, the central tondo missing. 114 grams total including package, 13-24.6 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

Water plant elements are scattered across the bottom of the tablion, which is decorated with water birds; these decorations likely surrounded the image of a nereid. These abstract decorations show a strong stylisation often giving the marine animals a plant-like appearance.