Phoenician White Steatite Cowroid Amulet

Composed mainly of melon, oblate and spherical beads, with two large discoid beads as a central feature, restrung. 34 grams, 33.7 cm



Ex Ancient Art Shop, Windsor, UK, 1990s. Ex private West County, UK, collection.

Two wooden panels showing two standing nimbate figures, probably Saint Daloucham on the right, wearing a red veil, and a bearded figure on the left, probably Saint Pachomius, holding a small cross and prayer beads; mounted on a fabric-covered backing board. 1.05 kg total, 65.2 x 50 cm



Leclere, Marseille, 20 April 2013, no.99. Private collection, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12184-221677.

Stylistically, the icon can be compared to the paintings in the Church of St. Thomas in Achmim, which could also help identify one of the two saints. Especially important in this regard are the parallels between the robes of the saints and those of Saint Thomas in the church’s Doom, with long folds coloured with identical colours; the floral decoration of the sleeves of the inner tunic, and the faces of the Saints, with oval and widened eyes. The influence of Ethiopian paintings of the same period is evident in the Church of Achmim, like in this icon. The painting preserves the distant memory of medieval paintings, through a Coptic cultural humus whose vestiges are still today in Egypt, Nubia and Ethiopia. In the Church of Achmim are represented the martyrs of Achmim, i.e. Saint Pachomius and his sister Saint Daloucham. It is not impossible that one of the represented ascetic monks could be Pachomius. It is also probable that the icon was part of a wider group, representing also other important characters of the Coptic Church.

Modelled in the round in striding pose with one arm resting along the body and the right hand raised to his mouth, wearing an elaborate side-lock of youth and Pschent crown fronted by uraeus; mounted on a display stand. 202 grams total, 12.8 cm including stand



with R.H. Blanchard's Egyptian Museum, Cairo, early 20th century. Private collection, London, UK. Accompanied by its original base, retaining the Blanchard label.

Harpocrates is the Greek equivalent of the Egyptian name Hor-pa-khered, which means 'Horus the Child'. This name refers to Horus as the divine infant of Isis and Osiris. Wearing an amulet of Harpocrates was believed to provide the same protection that Isis granted to her beloved son. Larger bronze statuettes, such as this, were probably votive offerings to Harpocrates, intended to secure his favour and protection.