Egyptian Tell el Amarna Artefact Collection

A blue glazed bifacial scaraboid; one side bearing the cartouche of Thutmose III and the legend “Enduring image of Re” and the other side Seti I’s throne name Men-Maat-Re (meaning “Eternal is the Justice of Re”) with other signs for an epithet that perhaps reads as “truly praised (of Re)”; pierced for suspension. 4.11 grams, 23 mm



From an old UK collection. From the private collection of Alf Baxendale (1941-2016) part 2, keen Egyptologist, member of the Egyptology Society, trustee of the Amarna Trust; thence by descent. Accompanied by an identification display card. Accompanied by a copy of his obituary published in Horizon, The Amarna Project and Amarna Trust newsletter, Issue 18, 2017, p.21, by Barry John Kemp, CBE, FBA, Professor Emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Cambridge and directing excavations at Amarna in Egypt.

Seti I's reign saw the production of many scarabs, scaraboids and plaques bearing his name as well as that of Thutmose III - who was considered a great warrior king.

A blue-glazed faience amulet of the creator god Ptah in the form of the dwarf god Pataikos, modelled nude with stylised anatomical detailing, holding two knives to his stomach, squatting on an oval base; a scarab on the top of his cap; ribbed suspension loop to reverse; mounted on a custom-made display base. 29.6 grams total, 66 mm high including stand



Ex private French collection. with Thierry Maigret, Hotel Drouot, Paris, 12 July 2005, 76.

The Egyptian deity Pataikos is a special manifestation of the creator god Ptah, and the dwarf-like appearance symbolises his magical power. As a protective deity, amulets of Pataikos were worn for their apotropaic qualities; Pataikos was often depicted subjugating poisonous animals such as snakes and scorpions, and Pataikos amulets were probably worn to protect the wearer from such animals. Ptah was the god of Egypt's capital city Memphis and master craftsman of the gods, known for his benevolent and approachable character. Ptah is attested from the beginning of ancient Egypt’s dynastic history and was a creator god, a god of craftsmen, and the patron deity of the Memphite region. The principal temple of the god was located in the city of Memphis. The fragmentary back pillar on this statuette indicates that it was most probably a temple offering, originally inscribed with an invocation to Ptah together with the donor’s name. Such votive figurines with back pillars naming the god and the dedicator occur in various materials, including faience and stone.

A cream-white ceramic mask with heavy brow over a narrow bridge to the nose, voids for the eyes, small deep-set mouth with full lower lip, rounded chin; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 739 grams total, 25 cm high including stand

Fine condition, edges chipped.

Ex UK art market, 1970s. Property of a London gentleman.