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LOT 0023
Large Egyptian Green Faience Figure of Nefertum with Figure of Sekhmet to the Reverse
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, CIRCA 332-30 B.C.
7 5/8 in. (480 grams total, 19.5 cm high including stand).
Modelled standing with arms held vertically at his sides, wearing a tripartite wig surmounted by a lotus flower flanked by scrolled leaves; dorsal pillar with low-relief image of Sekhmet in lioness-headed form and solar disc above; mounted on a custom-made stand.
Provenancewith Art Ancient, London, UK.
Private collection, London, UK.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13352-257009.
Cf. Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, pp.18-19, for a discussion of Nefertum amulets.
FootnotesNefertum is often depicted with a prominent lotus blossom above his head, symbolising both his divine beauty and his connection to the sun's rejuvenating power. He is sometimes portrayed with a lion's head or a lioness’s mane, or, as here, accompanied by an image of his lioness mother, Sekhmet, on his back, emphasising his link to her fierce and healing powers.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0023
Large Egyptian Green Faience Figure of Nefertum with Figure of Sekhmet to the Reverse
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000€2,320 - 3,480 (for guidance only)$2,700 - 4,050 (for guidance only)
Opening Bid
£1,000 (EUR 1,160; USD 1,350) +BP*
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Egyptian Stone Scarab Group
Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C. and laterEstimate: £120 - 170 (+bp*)
Bids: 2 | Current Bid: £10
Comprising five scarabs with anatomical detailing: one carnelian with two antelopes tête-bêche; one with worn hieroglyphs on the underside; one with two neb signs flanking others; one with two neb signs flanking a standing human figure, uraeus and nefer; and one with the Horus falcon above the sign for gold (nbw). 7.5 grams total, 12-16 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.
The falcon on the sign of gold, meaning 'Golden Horus (or falcon)', is found in the titles of Egyptian kings and was therefore considered a potent symbolic motif on scarabs. -
Egyptian Glazed Faience New Year Flask with Baboons
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,000
Lentoid body with segmented collars and blue detailing around the shoulders, neck with papyrus stalk detailing and a domed rim; addorsed stylised baboons flanking the neck. 263 grams, 16 cm
Acquired on the UK art market, 1990s. Private collection, New York, USA. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13350-255452.
The concept of renewal is expressed through the form, decoration, and inscriptions of this type of flask. Their rounded bodies evoke the sun disc, symbolising daily rebirth, while the squatting baboons flanking the mouth allude to those that greeted the rising sun each morning. The blue collar decoration, including floral motifs, as seen here, symbolises the renewal of the agricultural cycle through the annual Nile inundation. The papyrus-capital spout reinforces this theme of regeneration. Although traditionally dated exclusively to the 26th Dynasty, examples recovered from Late Period and early Ptolemaic contexts indicate that their popularity actually endured for several centuries. -
Egyptian Haematite Mace Head
4th-3rd millennium B.C.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Globular body with short socket and thickened rim; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 457 grams total, mace: 60 mm high
Ex Norman Fargo collection. with Olympia Auctions, 26 June 2024, no.119. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Norman Fargo was born in Los Angeles, California in 1945, the son of Hungarian immigrant Frank and his wife, Rose. His lifelong passion for collecting began at the age of six with a simple interest in rocks. By the 1960s, Norman had become a dedicated student of antique arms and armour, developing a deep appreciation for both craftsmanship and historical context. He began collecting at a time when many items now considered rare were still relatively accessible. A friendship with renowned collector Howard Curtis—whose important collection was partially sold at Christie’s, London in 1984—opened doors to early and exceptional material. Norman also acquired outstanding pieces from respected figures such as Frank Bivens and others known today through museum and auction catalogue provenance. Alongside his core collection of arms and armour (c.1450-1700), Norman developed an eye for period furniture and accessories. He also built a growing collection of Pre-Columbian art with an emphasis on Southern Mexican cultures, particularly Veracruz, as well as fine examples of Japanese Satsuma ware and cloisonné.
