Egyptian Silver Bastet Cat Goddess

Comprising: a winged scarab with detailed carapace and wings; and the mummiform figures of the four Sons of Horus, Imsety, Hapy, Duamutef, and Qebehsenuef; mounted on custom-made display stands. 635 grams total, 16.5-20 cm wide including stand



From a 1920s French collection. Ex German gallery, 1970-1980s. Spanish collection, 1980s-1990s. London, UK, collection, 2000s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12126-214208.

The Four Sons of Horus were deities responsible for protecting the internal organs of the deceased. The human-headed Imsety protected the liver, the baboon-headed Hapy protected the lungs, the jackal-headed Duamutef protected the stomach, and the falcon-headed Qebehsenuef protected the intestines.

Depicted nude in a dynamic pose with his legs apart and the weight of the body upon his right leg, standing in front of a two storey structure, probably an oven; his left arm raised and right arm extended in front of his torso and resting on the edge of the structure; the oven painted pink at the top and white at the bottom with an offering receptacle at floor level. 232 grams, 15 cm



Ex Dr Daniel Marie Fouquet (1859-1914), Cairo. with Pierre Berge & Associes, Auction, Archaeology 29 November 2014, no.193. Accompanied by a French cultural export permit, no.161028. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant pages in: Perdrizet, P., Les Terres Cuites Grecques d'Egypt de la Collection Fouquet, Nancy, 1921, where it is published. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12000-211884.

The image of the ‘Eros Baker’ is part of a wide production of Roman terracotta imitating Greek models, although in somewhat crude way. In the Roman age, designs tended to be commonplace and were often indifferent copies of Greek originals. However, the production of terracotta in Hellenistic Egypt continued without interruption and the most subjects of these votive statuettes (in this case probably a baker invoking the blessing of the god upon his activity) were religious, Eros being one of the favourites.

Restrung using mainly annular and tubular beads, with four larger oblate beads; central feature a large (5cm) Bes pendant, the god standing on a plinth and wearing an elaborate headdress. 18 grams, 56 cm



From the vendor's grandfather's collection, formed in the 1950s; thence by family descent circa 1974.

Bes became one of ancient Egypt's most popular apotropaic deities from the New Kingdom onwards. Despite his rather fearful appearance, Bes was the patron and protector of pregnant women and children. He was also believed to provide protection from snakes.