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LOT 0480
Egyptian Silver Fly Amulet
LATE-PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, 664-30 B.C.
1 in. (2 grams, 24 mm).
With linear detailing to body and wings, loop above the head. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom an early 20th century collection.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Cf. Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, pp.62-3.
FootnotesSmall fly amulets first appeared in burials during the Naqada II Period, c. 3200 B.C. These amulets grew in popularity and the materials used to make them expanded during the New Kingdom. They are crafted from a variety of materials such as gold, silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian, amethyst, faience, and bone. These amulets were thought to protect against insect bites and to ward off troublesome flying creatures through apotropaic magic. Some believe they may have even been intended to symbolise the fly’s fecundity. Additionally, pharaohs would bestow gold fly-shaped pendants as military awards to honour the bravery and fly-like persistence of soldiers in battle.
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
AUCTIONS:
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Egyptian Gold Uraeus Amulet
Late New Kingdom, 1279-1070 B.C.Estimate: £250 - 350 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £125
Depicting a rearing cobra sporting a sun disc with its coiled body below resting on the hieroglyphic neb sign. 0.38 grams, 11 mm
From an early 20th century French collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Egypto-Phoenician Lapis Lazuli Scarab with Cartouche for Thutmose III
Late 1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £2,500 - 3,500 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,250
With carapace detailing to obverse, plaque with intaglio cartouche for the throne name of Thutmose III men-kheper-Re, winged scarab at one end and a central floral motif flanked by cornucopia at the other end. 7.4 grams, 25 mm
Private collection of Mr S.A., Switzerland, 1990s, thence by descent. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12127-211877. 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 Small Head with Wig
Ptolemaic Period, 331-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
Formed as a small rounded head with filet or diadem to the brow, pert facial features. 54 grams, 44 mm
Antoni Sikorski collection, London, formed between the 1950s and 1970s. with Chiswick Auctions, 11 May 2016, [Part]. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Although worn, the narrow diadem and curly hair are reminiscent of portraits of Ptolemaic priests, such as Pakhom of Dendera (Bothmer, B.V., Egyptian Sculpture of the Late Period 700 B.C. to A.D. 100, New York, 1960, pp. 178-179, pls. 128 and 129, 343); Spier, J., Potts, T., and Cole, S.E. (eds.), Beyond the Nile: Egypt and the classical world, Los Angeles, 2018, p. 169 no. 101.