Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 0010
Large Egyptian Bronze Wepwawet Amulet
THIRD INTERMEDIATE-LATE PERIOD, 1069-332 B.C.
3 1/2 in. (4 5/8 in.) (54 grams, 91 mm (162 grams total, 11.7 cm including stand )).
Showing the jackal deity Wepwawet standing with ears pricked on a sledge, the slender body modelled with long legs and a tail, suspension loop on the back; two rearing cobras before the jackal; mounted on a custom-made display stand.
Provenance
Ex Dr R. and Mrs L.B., Zumikon, Switzerland.
with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12627-236406.
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.
Literature
Cf. Roeder, G., Ägyptische Bronzefiguren II, Berlin, 1956, pl. 49v, for a similar slender-bodied Wepwawet with rearing cobras and top suspension loop; Tiribilli, E., The bronze figurines of the Petrie Museum from 2000 BC to AD 400, GHP Egyptology 28, London, 2018, p. 182, no. 255, for a similar example with double cobras.
Footnotes
Wepwawet, meaning "Opener of the Ways," was an ancient Egyptian god associated primarily with warfare, protection, and funerary practices. Depicted as a jackal or a man with a jackal's head—often mistaken for Anubis—Wepwawet was believed to guide souls through the afterlife and open paths both in battle and in the spiritual realm.
He originated in Asyut (ancient Lycopolis) in Upper Egypt and was one of the oldest deities in the Egyptian pantheon, with worship dating back to at least the First Dynasty (c. 3100–2900 BCE). Over time, Wepwawet became closely linked to Anubis, and the two were sometimes conflated, though Wepwawet retained his distinct identity as a god who preceded and cleared the way.
In military contexts, Wepwawet was invoked to "open the way" for pharaohs and armies, ensuring victory and safe passage. In funerary texts, he was described as clearing the path to the afterlife, acting as a scout or guide for the deceased.
VETTING:
TimeLine 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.
LOT 0010
Large Egyptian Bronze Wepwawet Amulet
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000€4,640 - 6,960 (for guidance only)$5,400 - 8,100 (for guidance only)
RELATED LOTS
-
Egyptian and Other Mosaic Glass Fragment Collection
3rd century B.C.-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Comprising fourteen polychrome fragments displaying vibrant colours and patterns, two with a rounded lip. 58 grams total, 15-71 mm
Ex Gallery Mikazuki before 1984. London gallery, latterly Mayfair, UK, collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Phoenicio-Egyptian Black Stone Scaraboid with Lions
6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
With gusset to the sidewall and incuse design to the underside of opposed winged lions each with one forepaw raised. 14.5 grams, 28 mm
Ex collection of the late Mr S. M., London, UK, 1970-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Phoenician scarabs with winged lions were often used as guardian figures, much like Mesopotamian lamassu or Egyptian sphinxes. On amulets and seals, they likely served as apotropaic (evil-averting) symbols. In Phoenician and Persian art, hybrid creatures like winged lions reflect a cosmopolitan visual language, blending Egyptian, Assyrian, and Achaemenid motifs. They could symbolise imperial power or transcultural authority. In some cases, winged lions are linked to deities or divine guardianship, especially when shown flanking sacred symbols like trees, thrones, or sun discs. -
.jpg)
Egyptian Bronze Khonsu Statuette with Silver Eyes
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,000
Modelled in the round figure of Khonsu standing, holding the crook, flail, and long was-sceptre, with false beard and sidelock, wearing a crown consisting of a lunar crescent and disc with uraeus, and a broad collar; the eyes with sheet-silver inlays; mounted on a custom-made stand. 378 grams total, 19 cm including stand
Ex Geneva collection, Switzerland, acquired before 1980. Ex Galerie Günter Puhze GmbH, Germany, 2008. Ex Keane collection, Kent, UK. Accompanied by an original invoice from Galerie Günter Puhze GmbH. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12628-235137. 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.
Khonsu is an ancient Egyptian god of the moon, often depicted as a young man with a sidelock, a uraeus, and headgear featuring a lunar crescent and disc. He is associated with Thoth, another moon god. Together with his father Amun and mother Mut, Khonsu forms the Theban Triad.
