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LOT 0028
Egyptian Limestone Offering Table for Iny
LATE OLD KINGDOM-FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD, CIRCA 2400-2040 B.C.
18 in. (14.75 kg, 45.5 cm).
Rectangular table with the upper part carved in high relief in the shape of a bread loaf on a mat representing the hieroglyphic sign for "offering" (ḥtp), with two rectangular recesses for libations, and extensive hieroglyphic inscriptions displaying offering formulae along with the titles and name of the deceased: "an offering that the king gives and Anubis, the one upon his mountain, a voice offering of bread and beer for the sole companion, god’s sealer, the revered one before the god, lord of the sky/heaven, In[y]".
ProvenanceAcquired 1970s-1996.
Private collection, Switzerland.
with a North American collector.
London collection, 2016.
Accompanied by an academic report by Egyptologist Paul Whelan.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13001-244462.
Cf. Firth, C.M. and Gunn, B., Excavations at Saqqara: Teti Pyramid Cemeteries, vols. I & II, Le Caire, 1926, pp. 217-226, pl.11, for similar examples.
FootnotesOffering tables played a significant role in ritualistic activity within tombs. Their origins may be traced back to the simple act of placing a loaf of bread on a reed mat during Predynastic burials, which gradually evolved into a more formalised and durable expression in stone. The distinctive form also became a hieroglyph, used in words meaning “to be satisfied,” “to be satiated,” and similar expressions, reflecting appropriate sentiments for food and drink offerings.
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
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Very Large Egyptian Expedition Lithograph of the Temple of Edfu
Early 19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Proof etching on laid paper of plate 61 from Jomard Description de l'Égypte: ou, Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française with title Edfou (Apollinopolis Magna). Vue perspective du pylône et de la cour du Grand Temple. 235 grams, 106 x 69.3 cm
From the collection of a North American priest. Acquired between 1981-1996. Property of a North American collector.
Produced between February 1802 and 1830 on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte; published between 1809 and 1828. Just 1,000 copies were distributed to various institutions, printed on laid paper with an 'Égypte ancienne et moderne' watermark. The book is subtitled Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l’expédition de l’Armée française, publié par les ordres de Sa Majesté l’Empereur Napoléon le Grand (Gathering of observations and discoveries which were made in Egypt during the expedition of the French army, published on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon the Great). It was the world's first encyclopedia devoted exclusively to the remains of ancient Egypt. The plates of this book are the first to present the archaeological sites of Thebes (Luxor). The Temple of Horus at Edfu is among the best-preserved temples in Egypt. -
Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment
Circa 7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Large fragment of tapestry, comprising two segmenta, in red granate wool and coarse linen, on green wool background, S-Z torsion, embroidered with stylised birds, palmettes and other vegetal ornaments, the borders of both segmenta decorated with meanders. 103 grams total including package, 31 cm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.
This fabric was probably part of a wall tapestry or of a large garment. In 7th century A.D., the stylisation was always more evident on the embroidery of the Coptic textiles, especially when the Arab conquest banned the imagery of the Graeco-Roman world. The decoration was mostly concentrated on geometric ornaments or images of stylised animals. -
Egyptian Faience Hieroglyphic Shabti
Late New Kingdom-early Third Intermediate Period, circa 1200-1000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
Mummiform figure wearing a lappet wig, with arms crossed and holding a pick and hoe outlined in black; the wig, facial features, necklace, and seed bag painted black; hieroglyphic text to lower body: sḥḏ wsỉr "The illuminated, the Osiris". 87 grams, 11.3 cm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
The shabti was a stock product included with an opening dedication, awaiting the addition of the prospective purchaser's name. However, many examples of shabtis with only partial dedications are known to have been buried with the deceased.
