Phoenicio-Egyptian Dark Green Stone Scarab

The upper part of a large mummiform shabti wearing a striated tripartite wig and long plaited divine beard, holding a pick in the left hand, the right hand holding a hoe and the cord of a seed bag hanging over his left shoulder; the face expertly modelled with carefully rendered cosmetic lines around the eyes, slightly smiling lips giving it a serene expression; plain back pillar terminating at the base of the wig; five horizontal rows of hieroglyphic inscription giving the dedication sḥḏ wsı͗r ḥr (-pn-n-) Ꜣst, ‘The illuminated one, the Osiris Hor (pen-en) Aset’ followed by a version of Chapter 6 from the Book of the Dead; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 509 grams total, 20 cm including stand



Ex Y.F. collection. Acquired in the US, 2011. with Medusa Ancient Art, Quebec. Private collection, Europe. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12374-226922.

Of mummiform type, wearing a tripartite wig and long plaited divine beard, with arms crossed and the left hand holding a pick, the right hand holding a hoe and the cord of a seed bag hanging over his left shoulder; with carefully rendered cosmetic lines around the eyes, narrow eyebrows, and slightly smiling lips giving it a serene expression characteristic of the finest ushabtis of the period; standing on an integral plinth from which a plain back pillar terminating at the base of the wig extends; nine horizontal rows of hieroglyphic inscription, the Sixth Chapter of the Book of the Dead; water worn. 246 grams, 19 cm



Acquired on the German art market, 1989-1995. with The Museum Gallery, 19 Bury Place, London, WC1, UK, 1998-2003. Property of a London based academic, 2003-present.

Shabti figures could serve as a representation of the deceased and paradoxically also as their servant to carry out arduous manual tasks in the afterlife on behalf of their master. Late Period shabtis were most frequently made of faience, such as this example. The body of a shabti was usually in the form of a mummy from the neck down, depicted with agricultural tools in their hands, such as picks, hoes, and baskets. Chapter 6 from the Book of the Dead, lists the tasks expected of the magical figure. By the Late Period, hundreds of shabtis were often provided for the burial.

The lotiform cup modelled as an open lotus flower with incised petal detailing to the outer face, short stem and flared foot; some restoration. 205 grams, 12 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12100-214087.

Faience chalices shaped like the flowers of the white lotus (Nymphaea albicans) first appeared in the 18th Dynasty, and are thought to be drinking vessels.