Egyptian Stone Head of a Man

Barrel-shaped in profile with a rounded base, broad shoulder and flared mouth, two lateral integral loop handles; incised hieroglyphic legend to the shoulder. 420 grams, 37 cm



Formerly in a private collection, Beirut, Lebanon, 1990s. Swiss private collection, acquired from Mr H., Geneva, 2010. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13221-249178. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate, no.S00059830

In the Phoenician necropolises of Andalusia, the ashes of the deceased were enclosed in luxurious alabaster urns of Egyptian manufacture. In the Phoenician necropolis of Almuñécar, for example, some urns preserved inscriptions and emblems of various Egyptian pharaohs, who ruled the Nile region between the 16th and 8th centuries B.C. Alabaster vessels of this type, originally containing fine wines, have been discovered, albeit in smaller numbers, in the royal palaces of Assur and Samaria in the East, as part of war booty or gifts exchanged between royal houses.

Sizeable wedjat-eye amulet with applied black detailing to the pupil and brow. 16.5 grams, 50.4 mm



with Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983. Ex private North American collection. London private collection, 2016.

The wedjat-eye amulet symbolises the healed eye of the god Horus, representing both human and falcon elements. The name wedjat in ancient Egyptian means ‘the one that is sound.’ According to Egyptian mythology, Horus' eye was wounded or taken by the god Seth and later restored by Thoth. The wedjat-eye amulet was believed to protect its wearer and confer qualities of recovery and regeneration. It was highly popular and was used by both the living and the dead.

Mixed group of fragments, including two from a shabti figure. 75 grams total, 26-53 mm



From the late collection of a Cornish couple, formed from the early 1990s.