Egyptian Silver Hair Ring

Standing in advancing pose on a rectangular base; the god modelled with a disc representing the full-moon surmounting a crescent new moon atop his head and fronted by a uraeus, the falcon-head sports a finely striated tripartite wig and with beaded silver wire frames to the (once inlaid) eyes; wearing a broad wesekh collar; the left arm bent and fist drilled to grip a staff, right arm straight to the side with similar drilled fist; pleated shendyt kilt and belt to the hips; mounted on a tiered socle base. 896 grams total, 27 cm including stand

Very fine condition.

Smith family collection, Cambridge, UK since 1949. Private UK collection since 1978. Accompanied by a scholarly note by Egyptologist Paul Whelan. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11033-183985. 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.

The moon god Khonsu (whose name means 'wanderer', referring to the passage of the moon across the sky) is known as a blood-thirsty sky-deity in the Pyramid Texts. In New Kingdom Thebes, however, he was regarded as a far more benevolent deity, being the child of Amun and Mut, and provided with his own temple at Karnak. There, he was considered to control destiny. Khonsu can appear in human form with a side-lock of youth, wearing an enveloping garment, and holding royal regalia, and also as a falcon-headed man with the full moon and crescent new moon headdress, as with this fine example. In his falcon-headed form he frequently holds an ankh symbol and a was-sceptre, for which the hands of this piece were drilled to accept the god's well-known attributes.

Pale green transparent glass hoop with ellipsoid bezel, bevelled edge inlaid with a darker glass low-relief facing mask of the goddess Hathor with cow's ears and banded hairstyle. 17.65 grams, 39.43 mm overall, 20.51 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J, USA 4 3/4, Europe 8.69, Japan 8)



Acquired between 1965-2020. Private collection, London. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12484-229828. 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.

Images of Hathor with a human face and cow ears combine her human and bovine aspects. She is shown with a serene human face, symbolising her nurturing nature, while the cow ears emphasise her roles in fertility and motherhood. Hathor was one of the most important deities in ancient Egypt, revered as the goddess of love, beauty, music, dance, fertility, and motherhood. She was also associated with joy, childbirth, and women’s health. Hathor was believed to protect and nurture, often depicted as a maternal figure. As such, she was closely linked with Isis. She was closely linked to the sun god Ra, acting as a cosmic force facilitating life. In funerary contexts, Hathor was also seen as a guide for the dead, helping them transition to the afterlife. Her multifaceted role made her one of Egypt's most widely worshipped goddesses.

Including textile fragment, spindle whorl, shabti and other items. 41 grams total, 1.4-11 cm



From an old English collection. The shabti acquired from Den of Antiquity in 2011. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.