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LOT 0406
Egyptian Steatite Heart Scarab
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C.
7/8 in. (2.89 grams, 22 mm).
With ribbed carapace and suspension loop to underside.
ProvenanceAcquired on the European art market in the early 2000s.
with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland.
Cf. Ben-Tor, D., The Scarab: A Reflection of Ancient Egypt, Tel Aviv, 1993, p.77, no. 8, for a similar type.
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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LOT 0406
Egyptian Steatite Heart Scarab
Estimate £120 - 170€140 - 200 (for guidance only)$160 - 230 (for guidance only)
Opening Bid
£60 (EUR 70; USD 81) ‡+BP*
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Egyptian Silver Fly Amulet
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Estimate: £80 - 100 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
With detailing to the body and head, ribbed suspension loop above the head. 0.94 grams, 19 mm
Ex London, UK, gentleman, 1990s.
Fly amulets were believed to protect against insect bites and to ward off troublesome flying creatures through apotropaic magic. Some believe they may have even symbolised the fly’s fecundity. Additionally, pharaohs would bestow gold fly-shaped pendants as military awards to honour the bravery and persistence of soldiers in battle. -
Egyptian Glazed Faience New Year Flask with Baboons
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,000
Lentoid body with segmented collars and blue detailing around the shoulders, neck with papyrus stalk detailing and a domed rim; addorsed stylised baboons flanking the neck. 263 grams, 16 cm
Acquired on the UK art market, 1990s. Private collection, New York, USA. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13350-255452.
The concept of renewal is expressed through the form, decoration, and inscriptions of this type of flask. Their rounded bodies evoke the sun disc, symbolising daily rebirth, while the squatting baboons flanking the mouth allude to those that greeted the rising sun each morning. The blue collar decoration, including floral motifs, as seen here, symbolises the renewal of the agricultural cycle through the annual Nile inundation. The papyrus-capital spout reinforces this theme of regeneration. Although traditionally dated exclusively to the 26th Dynasty, examples recovered from Late Period and early Ptolemaic contexts indicate that their popularity actually endured for several centuries. -
Egyptian Faience Scarab
2nd millennium B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Anatomical detailing on the head and legs, with the underside featuring sedge plant (swt), ankh, and nefer symbols. 0.89 grams, 18 mm
Private collection, 1990s-early 2000s.
Scarabs featuring this design arrangement have been found in numerous sites in Palestine and were inspired by Middle Kingdom prototypes.