Loading, please wait...
LOT 0002
Egyptian Wooden Shabti
NEW KINGDOM, 19TH DYNASTY, 1293-1185 B.C.
10 5/8 in. (332 grams, 26.9 cm).
Carved in the round with detailed tripartite wig, hands crossed at the chest; some painted and gilded(?) plaster surface; mounted on a later base.
ProvenanceFrom the collection of Mrs Kilvert, who fled from France to England during the French Revolution.
Received by gift to the Hodge family from Mrs Kilvert at Bath in 1864-1865; thence by descent to the grandchildren of Mr John Hodge, a private London tutor.
From the collection of a New Zealand family; thence by descent.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12846-239090.
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.
Cf. Janes, G., The Shabti Collections 5: A Selection from the Manchester Museum, Lymm, 2012, p.64, for a shabti with a similar decorative arrangement.
FootnotesA shabti, also known as ushabti or shawabti, is a small funerary figurine found in ancient Egyptian tombs, dating from around 2000 BCE to 30 BCE. Its main purpose was to serve as a servant for the deceased in the afterlife, carrying out manual tasks such as farming or irrigation. Shabtis were often inscribed with a magical formula from the Book of the Dead to ensure they would animate when summoned. The distinctive, lighter-coloured, and previously part-gilded upper body decoration, contrasting with the black used for the rest of the figure, may symbolise the moment of rebirth, when the face of the deceased was bathed in the sun's rays.
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:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
-
Egyptian Faience Phallic Amulet
Ptolemaic-Roman Period, 323 B.C.-323 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Pendant plaque of male genitals with loop above. 1.08 grams, 17 mm
From an early 20th century collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Lead-Glazed Ribbed Glass Amphora
Parthian, 3rd-1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Squat in profile with ribbed sidewall and scooped foot, trumpet-shaped neck and mouth flanked by two thick loop handles. 104 grams, 95 mm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Egyptian Faience Hare Statuette
Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Modelled in the round in crouching position with its ears pulled back and resting along the body, black detailing to the eyes. 25 grams, 44 mm
Private collection of Mr K.A., acquired in the 1990s-early 2000s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The desert hare was one of the most common wild animals in Egypt. The female hare was sacred to Wenut, goddess of the 15th Upper Egyptian nome, though no specific hare cults are known. The purpose of hare figurines remains uncertain. According to Plutarch, Egyptians regarded the hare’s speed and keen senses—reflected in its open eyes—as divine.
