Phoenicio-Egyptian Hardstone Scarab with Hieroglyphs

Glazed blue and painted with two conjoined rectangular panels, one containing the king's cartouche, the other with the epithet 'beloved of Osiris'. 31 grams, 45 mm



Acquired in Europe before 1994.

Also known as Ramses the Great, famed for his building projects and military achievements, this king was the second longest reigning in Egyptian history, ascending the throne at age 13 and remaining there for around 67 years.

Sub-rectangular with keyhole-shaped aperture to the lower right edge; low-relief figure in profile wearing a tunic with circular neckline, bobbed hair swept behind the ears, sharp facial features with short goatee beard; bands of vertical fluting. 14.5 kg, 37.5 cm high



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 number no. 11830-207550.

The features and hairstyle of the figure resemble closely those of Asiatic captives shown on the outer wall of the temple of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel, Egypt. It is likely that the Egyptian artists from the time of Thutmose III onwards had frequent opportunities to observe the foreigners who came, or were brought into Egypt. It is likely that the Egyptian artists were interested in differentiating the various peoples encountered by the armies on their campaigns northward during the New Kingdom. The remains of a circular aperture behind the figure probably indicates that the slab was re-used as a grindstone or a door pivot in ancient times.

Ellipsoid scaraboid bead with base inscribed with a central hes-vase flanked by two uraei. 1.16 grams, 14 mm



Ex ArtAncient Ltd, London, SW6, in 2013, with stock no.15989. From the private collection of Mr A Hills, Kent, UK. Accompanied by a copy of an ArtAncient certificate of authenticity.