Large Framed Coptic Wool Garment Fragment with Dancing Nymphs

Carved with naturalistic anatomical detailing; the base displaying a ropework border framing three tiers of symbols and figures, including a couchant sphinx facing right and wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, a djed pillar and sacred uraeus before it, loop and other motifs; drilled for suspension. 4.18 grams, 24 mm



Ex London gentleman's collection, 1990s.

Comprising: original typescript (some carbon copies) and manuscript documents in Arabic, French and English relating to Egyptian archaeological sites and matters, including requests for permits to visit sites, together with several telegraph forms including a permission for a visit to the tomb of Tutankhamen on 13 February 1923 and requests for similar permission; together with seven monochrome photographic prints depicting Egyptian sites. 245 grams total, 9.5-30 cm



Ex Hans Nilson collection.

The names of numerous luminaries of Egyptology of the late 19th and early 20th century found in these documents, besides their significant contributions to our knowledge of ancient Egypt, also held important administrative roles in Egypt's Antiquities Service and the Cairo Museum. They include: Victor Loret (1859-1946), who served as Director General of the Egyptian Antiquities Service from 1897-1899; Émile Brugsch (1842-1930) served as Keeper in the Cairo Museum from 1883-1914; Reginald Engelbach (1888-1946) served as Chief Inspector of Upper Egypt for the Antiquities Service in 1920 and Keeper in the Cairo Museum from 1931-1941; Gustave Lefebvre (1879-1957) served as Inspector of Middle Egypt for the Antiquities Service from 1905-1914 and Keeper in the Cairo Museum from 1926-1928; James Quibell (1867-1935) served as Inspector of the Delta and Middle Egypt for the Antiquities Service from 1899-1904, Luxor 1904-1905, and Saqqara also in 1905. He was Keeper in the Cairo Museum from 1914-1923 and Secretary-General of the Antiquities Department from 1923-1925; Pierre Lacau (1873-1963) served as Director of the Antiquities Service from 1914-1936. When the tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered in 1922, Lacau ensured that its entire contents were secured for the Cairo Museum (much to the chagrin of Howard Carter and the Earl of Carnarvon); Howard Carter (1874-1939), although famous for discovering the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, earlier served as Chief Inspector of Antiquities of Upper Egypt from 1899-1905. The name most frequently occurring in the documents is that of Paul Tottenham who served as Advisor to the Ministry of Public Works in Egypt, including a telegram he sent to Howard Carter on 15th February 1923 requesting that he attend a meeting with the Minister (of Public Works), presumably on matters concerning the tomb of Tutankhamun.

The scene comprising: a thick rectangular base with gessoed surface; squatting male figure in a white kilt with modelled hair and painted facial details, the hands drilled to accept the handles of tools; a wooden spit with impaled carcass of a roasting fowl in the left hand; a small fan in the right hand; a squat fire-bowl with rounded rim and recess to the upper edge. 980 grams total, 31 cm wide



Acquired in the 1960s. From the collection of the late Egyptologist Surgeon Commander PHK Gray RN. From a Surrey, UK, collection. Accompanied by a scholarly note from Egyptologist Paul Whelan. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.202932.

Crafted for the tomb to accompany the deceased and provide for him in the afterlife.