LOT 0042

Large Egyptian Blue Faience Roundel for Ramesses II

NEW KINGDOM, 19TH DYNASTY, 1295-1186 B.C.

5 1/2 in. (475 grams total, 14 cm including stand).

A fitting or pommel made for King Ramesses II, his throne name (User-Maat-Re Setep-en-Re) inscribed within a cartouche topped by two ostrich feathers framing a solar disc; the cartouche positioned above the hieroglyphic sign nbw, which signifying 'gold' and alluded to the luminous radiance of the royal name; two uraei flanking the cartouche, wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt and the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, respectively; the throne name roughly translating as 'The justice of Re is powerful, chosen of Re'; a square-shaped socket located at the back for attachment; mounted on a custom-made display stand.

Formerly with G. Janes, Manchester, UK and collection Galerie Nefer.
Previously with Cybele Galerie Librairie Egyptologie, Paris, France.
From an important English collection.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Alberto Maria Pollastrini.
Accompanied by a copy of the Cybele invoice.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.10740-177442.

'Nefertari regina d'Egitto' An exhibition of 130 objects from the British Museum, the Louvre, the Egyptian Museum of Turin, the Turin Archaeological Museum, and the Royal Library of Turin. In collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute, 6 October 1994 - 5 June 1995.

Cf. Alfano, C. (ed.), Nefertari regina d'Egitto. Le Ciminiere, Catania, 27 mar.-30 giu., Catania, 1999, p. 16, for a comparable green faience fitting of Ramesses II (Zurich 3702); Donadoni Roveri, A.M. (ed.), Egyptian Civilization: Religious Beliefs, Turin, 1988, p.150, fig.201, for a similar fitting, inscribed King Ay, found in Queen Nefertari's tomb.

The epithet part of the throne name Setep en Re appears in Ramesses II's royal titulary from Year 2 of his reign. The two rearing cobras, which symbolise the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, also represent the unity of the Two Lands under Ramesses II's rule. A similar green faience fitting bearing Ramesses II's throne name is kept in the Archaeological Collection of Zürich (inv. no. 3702). Similar objects linked to the 18th Dynasty kings Akhenaten and Ay show that such fittings were not limited to the 19th Dynasty. They may even have influenced later designs, as the fitting of King Ay, possibly from a piece of heirloom furniture, was found among the tomb goods of Nefertari, Ramesses II’s “Chief Queen”.