Egyptian Silver Fly Amulet

The head of goddess Bastet modelled in the round with alert ears and eyes, ears pierced; hollow-formed. 40.4 grams, 33.6 mm high



Acquired in the mid 1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

The feline's pierced ears likely once held earrings or other ornaments. It was probably attached to a statuette of a cat, whose body may have been crafted from wood. The cat was sacred to Bastet, a protective mother goddess and the daughter of the sun god Re. Amulets provided the wearer with the goddess's protection. Her name means ‘she of the bast [ointment jar],’ which may have contained a substance favoured by or exclusive to royalty. Originally, Bastet was depicted as a woman with the head of a lioness, but by the late New Kingdom, she was typically shown with a cat's head. She is sometimes portrayed with kittens, emphasising her maternal role as a fierce protector of her offspring.

Modelled seated on an oval base; pierced for suspension. 1.47 grams, 13 mm



Mrs Allinson to Mrs Foster, 1867 and thence by descent to the current owner, Stanley Crescent, London, UK.

Frog amulets in ancient Egypt symbolised fertility, rebirth, and renewal. Associated with the goddess Heket, who was connected to childbirth and life-giving forces, these amulets were especially popular in contexts related to fertility and protection during pregnancy and labour. Their association with the annual Nile flood, which brought new life to the land, further underscored their symbolism of revival and abundance.

Comprising: three ring-shaped with grooves and two irregular cube-shapes. 46 grams total, 18-25 mm



Prince collection, 1990s-2014. Ex private collection 1970s-1990s.