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LOT 0036
Egyptian Limestone Relief with Pharaoh Making Offerings
PTOLEMAIC-ROMAN PERIOD, CIRCA 332 B.C.-300 A.D.
17 7/8 in. (18.4 kg total, 45.5 cm including stand).
Rectangular relief showing the pharaoh wearing the pschent crown of Upper and Lower Egypt and presenting the hieroglyphic sign of a field (sḫt) in his outstretched palms towards the now barely discernible figure of a standing deity holding a long sceptre; an empty cartouche above and a column of worn hieroglyphic text below; mounted on a custom-made display stand.
ProvenanceAcquired 1970s-1996.
Private collection, Switzerland.
with a North American collector.
London collection, 2016.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12943-244661.
Cf. Mariette, A., Dendérah: description générale du grand temple de cette ville, vol. III, Paris, 1871, pl. 48e, for a similar scene.
FootnotesScenes showing the pharaoh offering various items, including fields, to one or more deities are found in temples across Egypt. The empty cartouche is a feature most often seen in inscriptions from Ptolemaic and Roman-period temples, reflecting uncertainty over the holder of power in the country.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0036
Egyptian Limestone Relief with Pharaoh Making Offerings
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
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Egyptian Blue Faience Bead Necklace with Taweret
Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C.Estimate: £600 - 800 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £300
A restrung designer necklace composed of cylindrical and annular beads, central feature composed of polychrome annular beads flanking a Taweret amulet; modern clasp. 21.2 grams, 27.6 cm
Private collection, UK.
The ancient Egyptian goddess Taweret is mainly associated with fertility, childbirth, motherhood, and the protection of women during pregnancy and labour. She is depicted as a composite creature, combining various animal features, and is one of the more unique and striking deities in the Egyptian pantheon. Taweret’s name comes from the Egyptian word for "great" or "large" (tꜣwꜣrt), reflecting her formidable and protective nature. -
Egyptian Multi-Stranded Mummy Bead Necklace
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
A four-strand designer necklace composed of polychrome beads of mainly annular and tubular types. 22.9 grams, 82 cm
Acquired before 1979. From the private collection of Mr F.A., South Kensington, London, UK; thence by descent 2014.
For thousands of years, artisans in Egypt created vibrant ceramics to echo the beauty of rare jewels. These ornaments were created with almost every material, colour, and texture imaginable and they come from across Egypt and beyond: vibrant blue lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, glossy black obsidian from Turkey, and aqua-green turquoise from the Sinai. They were worn in life and, after death, they served as precious ornamentation for mummies. -
Egyptian Gold Ring with Agate Bull
New Kingdom, 1550-1292 B.C.Estimate: £6,000 - 8,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £3,250
Comprising a round-section swivel ring set with a carved Apis bull depicted recumbent with its head turned to right. 4.71 grams, 27.98 mm overall, 19.07 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)
Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12939-245988.
The Apis bull was a sacred animal in ancient Egyptian religion, worshipped as a living manifestation of the god Ptah and later associated with Osiris and Ra. Regarded as an intermediary between the gods and humanity, the Apis bull was chosen based on specific physical characteristics, such as a black coat with unique white markings. Once identified, it was housed in a grand temple in Memphis, where it was treated with great reverence, adorned with jewellery, and participated in important religious ceremonies. Upon its death, the bull underwent elaborate mummification and burial rituals, symbolising its transition to the afterlife and its continued divine role. The cult of the Apis bull highlights the Egyptians’ deep connection to animals as symbols of divine power and their belief in the interconnectedness of the mortal and spiritual worlds.
