Egyptian to Roman Period Faience Bead Group

Carved with naturalistic anatomical detailing; the base displaying a ropework border framing three tiers of symbols and figures, including a couchant sphinx facing right and wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, a djed pillar and sacred uraeus before it, loop and other motifs; drilled for suspension. 4.18 grams, 24 mm



Ex London gentleman's collection, 1990s.

Modelled in the round as a votive ithyphallic figure wearing a double-plumed crown with a sun disc, holding a flail in his outstretched right hand and his erect phallus in the left; mounted on a custom-made display base. 538 grams total, 21 cm high including stand



Acquired on the London art market. Ex 'K' collection, 1990-2020s.

Amun-Min-Kamutef was a syncretic deity combining the attributes of Amun, the supreme god of the Egyptian pantheon, and Min who represents sexual procreativity. The iconography of Amun's ithyphallic form Kamutef is essentially that of Min, and serves to emphasise the sexual prowess of the god. Kamutef means 'bull of his mother' and appears to refer both to Amun's sky-goddess mother in her cow form and to the bull's sexual prowess and strength.

Modelled seated on an arch-shaped base, with simple facial detailing and suspension loop to the reverse. 0.52 grams, 8 mm



Ex French collection 1920s, Paris art market.