Georgian Silver Ring with Chnoubis Flanked by Ibis and Falcon

Hollow-formed miniature of a sphinx couchant with forelegs extended, wearing the nemes crown and with tasseled braid placed along the spine; mounted on a wooden display stand. 1.44 kg total, 25 wide including stand



From the private collection of a S.W. London gentleman, acquired in the 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The most celebrated Sphinx in Egyptian mythology is the monument built near the pyramids as a protective symbol, to wish the pharaoh a peaceful afterlife. It has a leonine body and a human head. The Sphinx could be shown as male or female, depending on the pharaoh or queen it had to protect. The inclusion of sphinxes in temple complexes became a tradition lasting into the Roman period and Late Antiquity. Many pharaohs had their heads carved atop the guardian statues of their tombs, in part to show their close relationship with the powerful solar deity Sekhmet, a lioness. This cast bronze sphinx is a fine example of neoclassical sculptural art under the influence of Egyptomania and the renewed interest in the culture of ancient Egypt sparked by Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign from 1798. At a time when only few could afford a trip to Egypt during the peak of Egyptomania contact could be made with Egyptian culture through literature, architecture and art. Particularly influential were Vivant Denon’s Voyage dans la Basse et la Haute Égypte, the Institute of Egypt's Description de l'Égypte, Robert Adams's interior decoration, Verdi’s Aida and the pedestal sphinxes protecting the obelisk of Tuthmosis III (Cleopatra's Needle).

Each earring composed of five articulated segments, masterfully crafted in silver and gold with an openwork gold base frame executed in the ajour technique extending to the edges; the upper section featuring a hexagonal stud centred by a table-cut diamond within a border of small inset stones, followed by heart-shaped and hexagonal links adorned with further diamonds; the central rosette displaying a prominent diamond encircled by six flat-cut stones, with the interstitial lobes and the hexagonal double frame highlighted by rows of tiny diamonds; the reverse richly ornamented with a stylised flowering plant motif, two leaves flanking a central stem surmounted by a round flower, all defined in silver-set diamonds against the openwork gold ground, further enclosed by a twin ring of zig-zagging diamond lines; suspended below, a claw-form dangle holding a large round pearl, capped above and below with diamond-set finials. 53.62 grams total, 10.1-10.2 cm



Acquired in 2010. Private collection, London. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12802-241417. 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.

Mainly discoid and ellipsoid in plan with incuse motifs including profile bust, regardant beast, huntsman with bow and other types; after the antique. 24.4 grams total, 9-23 mm



Ex London, UK, art market, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.