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LOT 0472
Egyptian Silver Fly Amulet
LATE-PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, 664-30 B.C.
3/4 in. (0.84 grams, 19 mm).
With linear detailing to wings, raised eyes, pierced for suspension. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx London, UK, art market, 1990s.
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.
FootnotesAlthough flies might seem like mere nuisances—often shown being swatted by pharaohs or officials—ancient Egyptians admired them for their speed, agility, and persistence. Fly-shaped amulets, first appearing in Naqada II burials around 3200 B.C., became especially popular in the New Kingdom. Made from materials like gold, silver, faience, lapis lazuli, and bone, they served apotropaic purposes, protecting against bites and warding off pests. Some may have also symbolised fertility. Gold fly pendants were even awarded by pharaohs to honour soldiers’ bravery and tenacity.
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 Steatite Scarab Group
Mainly Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
Designs include: a line border enclosing a kneeling figure holding a staff, flanked by coiled cobras; a line border enclosing user, m, Re, and ankh signs; a line border enclosing a standing figure before a rearing cobra, with both figures surmounting a neb sign; a line border enclosing numerous hieroglyphs: a nefer sign flanked by sun discs, men, m, meru, neb signs with a falcon in front; a line border enclosing a central cartouche-shaped panel with neb, a, and ro signs, flanked by nefer and wadj signs. 10.6 grams total, 13-20 mm
Acquired on the European art market in the early 2000s. with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Egyptian Faience Necklace with Pendant
New Kingdom, 1400-1100 B.C.Estimate: £600 - 800 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £333
Restrung group of tubular and fusiform faience beads with D-shaped pendant and two tiers of dangles beneath. 48 grams, 80 cm long
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Egyptian Limestone Relief
Late-Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
Relief fragment comprising: a sun disc with high-relief scarab motif to the centre; below this, a head in profile wearing a tiered wig with uraeus to the brow; mounted on a custom-made stand. 1.61 kg total, 22.2 cm including stand
Collection of Mr C., Geneva, Switzerland (1936-2016), assembled between 1985 and 2010. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
