Phoenician Alabaster Spindle Whorl

The god modelled seated on a throne with a dorsal pillar, hands resting on his knees, wearing a short kilt and a two-plume feather crown; mounted on a wooden stand. 15.75 grams total, 71 mm including stand



with Charles Ede Ltd, London, UK. Private collection, London, UK, acquired from the above on 12 July 1994. Accompanied by a copy of the Charles Ede invoice. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12632-235078. 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.

The amulet of the god Amun served both religious and protective purposes in ancient Egypt. Amun was a major deity associated with creation, kingship, and hidden power. Wearing an amulet bearing his image or name was believed to invoke his divine protection, grant strength, and confer favour or legitimacy. Such amulets were also placed among burial goods to ensure the deceased was protected and guided in the afterlife.

Housed in five linen-covered boxes, covering Unas Teti, Memphis, Tombs of the Nobles, Meruruka, Saqqara, general Egyptian sites, jewellery, and architecture etc. 4.4 kg total, 26.5 x 16.5 x 6.5 cm each box



Property of archaeologist Stephanie Gee, N.W. London, UK, 1960s-1980s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Stephanie Gee was a prominent archaeologist who took part in several expeditions in Egypt. She was a trusted assistant to the British-Australian archaeologist Veronica Seton-Williams, who excavated in Egypt, Britain, and the Near East. Stephanie also took part in the Tell El-Farâ'în expeditions of 1965-1968, and assisted Seton-Williams with preparing the 1966 expedition report. Their collaboration continued and Stephanie helped with the manuscript of Seton-Williams’ book ‘The Road to El-Aguzein’, a narrative account of her life that was first published in 1988.

Designs include: a line border enclosing a kneeling figure holding a staff, flanked by coiled cobras; a line border enclosing user, m, Re, and ankh signs; a line border enclosing a standing figure before a rearing cobra, with both figures surmounting a neb sign; a line border enclosing numerous hieroglyphs: a nefer sign flanked by sun discs, men, m, meru, neb signs with a falcon in front; a line border enclosing a central cartouche-shaped panel with neb, a, and ro signs, flanked by nefer and wadj signs. 10.6 grams total, 13-20 mm



Acquired on the European art market in the early 2000s. with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.