Egyptian Painted Wooden Uraeus Sacred Cobra Finial

Olive-green glazed composition with detailed facial features, hands, tools, seed bag, dorsal pillar; T-shaped hieroglyphic text: 'sḥḏ wsir nb pḥ.ty ..ns(?) mꜢʾ ḫrw ms n ipt-wrt(?)' ‘The illuminated, the Osiris, Lord of Strength ..ns(?), true of voice’ born to Ipet-weret(?)’; mounted on a custom-made stand. 169 grams total, 15 cm high including stand



Part of an old collection dating back to the 19th century. Ex property of a gentleman, acquired before the 1980s. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.

Carved limestone body of an ibis with hole above the shoulders for the bronze neck and head casting, and two angled holes beneath for the legs. 55 grams, 58 mm



Private collection formed in the 1990s. Acquired from a central London gallery. Property of an Essex gentleman.

The bifacial upper part of a handle featuring Hathor, depicted with cow ears and wearing a heavy wig with characteristically curled lappet ends and a broad collar; on either side a uraeus, one of which is wearing the crown of Lower Egypt, the other the Upper Egyptian crown; remains of the sistrum cradle above. 146 grams total, 10.7 cm including stand



with Galerie Gunter Phuze, Kunst der Antike 4, Freiburg, 1982, no.335. German private collection H. W. (1931-2018), acquired 1982. Accompanied by a copy of an IADAA Interpol search certificate. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Galerie Gunter catalogue pages.

The sistrum was a rattle-like instrument played exclusively by women in religious ceremonies. The sound produced by the sistrum was believed to drive away evil and soothe a god's anger. Hathor is the daughter of the sun god Re, and in her role as a mother goddess is often depicted as a cow or with bovine characteristics as here. Hathor is also associated with love, music and dancing, and the sistrum is one of her sacred symbols.