Large Mounted Egyptian Coptic Textile

Comprising: a fragment of a segmentum in white linen and blue wool, D torsion, with remains of a medallion embroidered with architectonical ornaments; fragment of an orbiculus in linen and red, brown, yellow and blue wool, S torsion, embroidered with vegetal patterns and the central images of an animal; a further fragment of an orbiculus in white linen and red, white, black wool, S torsion, embroidered with floral buds, a tetragamma and animals; a beautiful fragment of clavus, purple wool on linen, embroidered with lions catching birds. 67 grams total including package, 10.7-26.6 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

Scenes featuring personified animals first appeared during the early Pharaonic period and continued through to the Coptic era. These animals are often featured in scenes of music and dance, or processions linked with Dionysiac iconography.

Proof etching on laid paper of plate 52 from Vol.I of Description de l'Égypte : ou, Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. entitled Edfou (Apollinopolis magna. Coupe et élévation intérieure du pylône du grand temple. 230 grams, 105.5 x 69 cm



From the collection of a North American priest. Acquired between 1981-1996. Property of a North American collector.

Produced between February 1802 and 1830 on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte; published between 1809 and 1828. Just 1,000 copies were distributed to various institutions, printed on laid paper with an 'Égypte ancienne et moderne' watermark. The book is subtitled Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l’expédition de l’Armée française, publié par les ordres de Sa Majesté l’Empereur Napoléon le Grand (Gathering of observations and discoveries which were made in Egypt during the expedition of the French army, published on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon the Great). It was the world's first encyclopedia devoted exclusively to the remains of ancient Egypt. The plates of this book are the first to present the archaeological sites of Thebes (Luxor). The temple at Edfu in Upper Egypt is dedicated to Horus and was built during the Ptolemaic Period. It remains one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt.

Including scarab, pedestal-base and other types. 18 grams total, 14-21 mm



with Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983. Ex private North American collection. London private collection, 2016.