Loading, please wait...
LOT 0423
Romano-Egyptian Bronze Turtle Statuette
ROMAN PERIOD, 30 B.C.-323 A.D.
1 in. (8.03 grams, 24 mm).
Modelled in the round with naturalistic detailing.
Provenance‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
-
Egyptian Bronze Per-Medjed Oxyrhynchus Fish
Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C.Estimate: £3,000 - 4,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,111
The fish displayed atop a shrine on a hollow rectangular base; attached by ventral and pectoral fins, remains of forked tail; dorsal ridge; tapering nose; recessed circular eyes; horned sun disc headdress with coiled cobra to base; figure of a worshipping priest kneeling beneath. 271 grams, 10.6 cm
Acquired in Europe before 1990. Private collection, Europe. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11833-206796.
Per-Medjed is the ancient Egyptian name of the main cult centre of this type of fish (Mormyrus kannume). The Greeks called the cult centre Oxyrhynchus Polis (meaning 'Town of the sharp-snouted fish'). In ancient Egyptian religion, these sacred fish were believed to have consumed the penis of the god Osiris after his brother Set had dismembered and scattered his body. Statuettes such as this are associated with Isis and Hathor. -
Romano-Egyptian Bronze Crouching Frog Statuette
Roman Period, 30 B.C.-323 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Modelled in the round with naturalistic detailing, head raised. 10.1 grams, 23 mm
‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.
This may be a weight, since small bronze statuettes of various animals including frogs were used as counterbalances on scales. -
Large Egyptian Bronze Body of Horus-Harpocrates
Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £400
The nude body with legs held together and arms by his side, semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing; cleaned. 993 grams, 22.5 cm high
Collection of Brugsch Pasha (1842-1930). with Hotel Drouot, Paris, 30 September 1997, lot 643. Ex property of Mr Naudy. Property of a French collector. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11601-198618. Accompanied by a scholarly note by Egyptologist Paul Whelan.
Horus, son of Isis and Osiris, was considered a solar deity who overcame darkness and defeated the chaotic forces of his evil uncle, the god Seth. Egyptian Pharaohs considered themselves to be reincarnations of Horus. In his youthful form, Horus the child embodies the new sun and all associated benefits. In Graeco-Roman Egypt he became Harpocrates, son of Serapis and Isis, the deity-symbol of rebirth and fertility, perhaps the most popular deity to be represented in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt.
