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LOT 0030
Egyptian Limestone Bas-Relief Panel of Ptah Presiding Over the Smelting of Metals
OLD KINGDOM, 5TH DYNASTY, 2498-2345 B.C.
21 in. (21.35 kg total, 53.5 cm wide including stand).
This expertly carved high-relief scene depicts three male figures with short hairstyles, each wearing a short kilt tied at the waist; the left and central figures carry a small furnace by curved handles, preparing to smelt copper; the central figure also holds a metal poker in his free hand; the figure on the left supports a large container at chest level with one hand; finely rendered hieroglyphic inscriptions in front of each figure record a dialogue among the three metalworkers; the leftmost figure, facing the others, declares “Ptah could not have done better”; the central figure responds with three lines of text “Ptah loves him to pour (into) the brazier of the flame”; the inscription before the rightmost figure reads “copper of the baskets”; together, the second and third texts may be interpreted as “Ptah would love him to pour copper from the baskets into the furnace”; the composition likely formed part of a larger scene illustrating metalworking activities; supplied with a custom-made stand.
Provenancewith Toufic Arakji, Hamburg, by circa 1980.
Private collection, acquired from the above, circa 1980-1994.
with Sotheby’s, New York, Antiquities and Islamic Art, 8 June 1994, no.23.
Private collection, 1994-2010, acquired at the above sale.
with David Aaron, London, UK, 2010-2011.
with Daniel Katz Gallery, London, UK.
UK private collection.
Accompanied by an academic report by Egyptologist Sylvie Caroff.
Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00142449.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
For a comparable scene, see Hayes, W.C., The Scepter of Egypt, vol. I, p. 98, where a similar composition is described from the tomb of Re-em-kuy.
FootnotesThe mention of Ptah – patron god of craftsmen – links this piece to Memphis, suggesting it came from the tomb of a high-ranking official or priest.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0030
Egyptian Limestone Bas-Relief Panel of Ptah Presiding Over the Smelting of Metals
Estimate £80,000 - 100,000€92,800 - 116,000 (for guidance only)$108,000 - 135,000 (for guidance only)
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Egyptian Limestone Fragment
New Kingdom, 1550-1295 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
Architectural fragment with two dressed faces; incised design comprising: vertical border to the left; a band of hieroglyphic text at the top; an arch enclosing a seated figure in profile wearing a tripartite wig and collar with curved beard, head cone and frond above; curved linear element meeting the end of the beard; traces of white, blue, red-brown and other pigments; chamfered edge pierced in modern times for mounting. 190 grams, 10.8 cm
From the estate of a deceased American, acquired between 1970-1989. with Bonham's, London, Knightsbridge, 28 October 2009, no.23 [part]. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Egyptian Green Glazed Faience Amulet of a Seated Sphinx
Kushite Kingdom, 25th Dynasty, circa 747-656 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
Figure of a sphinx in seated pose on a tongue-shaped base, with loop between the shoulders and Nubian hairstyle. 17.48 grams total, 51 mm including stand
with Charles Ede Ltd, London, UK. Private collection, London, UK, acquired from the above on 28 April 1994. Accompanied by a copy of the Charles Ede invoice. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The 'Nubian' hairstyle was worn by young women in connection with birth, nursing babies and applying cosmetics. -
Egyptian Silver Poppy Amulet Collection
Late-Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Group of poppy-head amulets, some with suspension loop, others pierced. 7.21 grams total, 5-18 mm
Ex London, UK, gentleman 1980-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Amulets in the form of poppies were used to heal and alleviate pain and to ward off death. These types of amulets were also linked to Osiris, the Egyptian deity of agriculture, death, and the afterlife.
