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_900x900.jpg "Monumental Egyptian Stone Head of a Pharaoh")
_200x200.jpg "Monumental Egyptian Stone Head of a Pharaoh")
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LOT 0014
Monumental Egyptian Stone Head of a Pharaoh
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, 332-30 B.C.
17 in. (45.15 kg, 43 cm).
An over-life-size head of a pharaoh, likely from a monumental sphinx, wearing the royal nemes headdress with a prominent headband and the remains of a rearing uraeus on the brow with a single coil of the body on either side of the cobra’s hood, its tail extending towards the back of the headdress; the large, almond-shaped eyes prominently outlined, and unlike on some portraits, the cosmetic lines do not extend beyond the outer corner; the fragmentary nose almost spanning the width of the small mouth modelled with straight and somewhat pursed lips; mounted on a custom-made display stand.
ProvenancePrivate collection, Germany, 1975.
European collection, 1980s-late 1990s.
By descent from the above to the present owner.
Accompanied by an academic report by 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.12201-218142.
Cf. Stanwick, P., Portraits of the Ptolemies: Greek Kings as Egyptian Pharaohs, Austin, 2002, pp. 67, 103 Cat. A27, for similar.
FootnotesThe presence of tool marks around the neck and sides of the head, contrasting the smooth surface of the face and front part of the headdress, suggests that the sculpture is an unfinished piece. The noticeably heavy brow line is a feature of the 30th Dynasty style, which influenced Ptolemaic royal portraiture (cf. Tomoum, N., The Sculptors' Models of the Late and Ptolemaic Periods, Cairo, 2006, pl.17, for a finished portrait assigned to the 30th Dynasty).
The distinctive features of the head are reminiscent of a granite sphinx head discovered at the Egyptian Delta site of Canopus, now housed in the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria. Two additional heads, one also from the Canopus region, exhibit similar traits, hinting that this style may be indicative of the artistic output of this Delta region.
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LOT 0014
Monumental Egyptian Stone Head of a Pharaoh
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000€46,400 - 69,600 (for guidance only)$54,000 - 81,000 (for guidance only)
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Egyptian Alabaster Alabastron
Late Period, circa 664-332 B.C.Estimate: £600 - 800 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £222
With small everted rim, the body of oval shape with two ear-shaped vestigial handles; rim chipped and base partly absent. 174 grams, 87 mm high
Mary Stout Shaw (1880-1962); thence by direct descent to the present owner. Accompanied by a copy of a 1976 family photo featuring some of the collection on display.
Mary Kilgour Stone was born in 1880 in Cincinnati, Ohio. On 25 November 1903, she married Percy Wyfold Stout from Gloucester (DSO, OBE, 1875-1937), who had moved to Cairo after an international rugby career. After fighting in the First World War, Percy became the Director of the Egyptian Delta Land Company and the Anglo-American Nile Tourist Company. He and Mary were friends with the famous Major Gayer-Anderson, who worked as a doctor on the company’s cruise boats between 1930 and 1939. Gayer-Anderson tells in his memoir how this allowed him to make frequent trips to Upper Egypt and fulfil his passion for collecting (and dealing in) ancient Egyptian art. In his company, Mary became an enthusiast about all things Egypt and formed an elegant collection of ancient Egyptian alabaster vessels, including the following lots. She was particularly fascinated with the ancient cat goddess Bastet. Therefore, when Gayer-Anderson decided to give his famous ancient bronze cat to the British Museum in 1939, he made sure the donation was in both his name and Mary Stout Shaw’s, as a tribute to their friendship. -
Egyptian Faience Amulet with Thoth as Ibis and Maat
Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C.Estimate: £1,200 - 1,700 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £667
On a wedge-shaped base and decorated in turquoise glaze; the ibis's beak resting on a diminutive figure of the goddess Maat; suspension loop on the neck of the bird; collector's inventory number E509' on the underside; accompanied by a custom-made display base. 22 grams total, 43 mm wide including stand
Ex Reine Margot, 1973. Ex R. Liechti (1934-2010) Geneva, Switzerland, collection between 1950-1990s.
In the judgment of the dead (Book of the Dead saying 125), Thoth, who is often represented in ibis form, records the result of weighing the heart of the deceased. The god is therefore mostly depicted in connection with the goddess Maat, whose feather was used as a counterbalance to the purity of the heart; such amulets were thus aimed at protecting the deceased from failing in the decision of the court of the dead. -
Original Press Photographs of the 1972 Tutankhamun Exhibition
1972 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Comprising monochrome glossy photographs with printed caption to the reverse: 'Tutankhamun's Funerary Couch. The divine cow in the final stages of wrapping, being embraced by Mr. T.G.H. James, Assistant Keeper of the British Museum'; 'The six stages in the packing of the gilded wooden statue of Tutankhamun; one of a pair that stood sentinel at the entrance to the inner chamber'; 'Colin Ashby of Walford Wingate Forwarders Ltd in the course of packing the major item in the Tutankhamun collection at the Cairo Museum. The funerary mask from Tutankhamun's mummy is made of beaten gold and is the finest ever found.' (Colour photo); 'The funerary mask from Tutankhamun's mummy made of beaten gold and the finest ever found. (Please credit the Cairo Museum)'; 'Part of the carefully-packed contents of Tutankhamun's tomb at London Airport on arrival from Cairo. Lt.Col. E.C. Easter MBE, Chairman of Walford Wingate Forwarders Ltd. the company responsible for the entire packing and surface transportation operation, supervises the off-loading of part of the world's most fabulous treasure.' (2 photographs); 'Never has B.O.A.C.'s slogan been more assuring. the innocent looking cargo being unloaded at London Airport is part of a priceless consignment from Cairo for the forthcoming exhibition of the contents of Tutankhamun's tomb to be held at the British Museum. Flown in by the R.A.F. and B.O.A.C. under British Government indemnity, the world's greatest treasure trove was packed and handled by Walford Wingate Forwarders Ltd.'; 'Tutankhamun's Funerary Couch. Preliminary inspection of Tutankhamun's funerary couch by Messrs Ashby and Burnett of Walford Wingate Forwarders Ltd.'; 'Tutankhamun's Funerary Couch. One of the divine cows separated from the couch in the early stages of wrapping'. 102 grams total, 25.2 x 17.7 - 25.3 x 20.4 cm
Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman.
