Romano-Egyptian Glass Millefiori Face Bead

A fragment of a greywacke cosmetic spoon, shaped as a fish with finely worked features and incised eye, scales, gill, and fin detailing; the underside is recessed to create the spoon bowl; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 27 grams, 58 mm wide (50 grams total, 85 mm high including stand)

Fine condition.

Acquired in the 1980s. From a French collection.

Modelled in the round as a votive ithyphallic figure wearing a double-plumed crown with a sun disc, holding a flail in his outstretched right hand and his erect phallus in the left; mounted on a custom-made display base. 538 grams total, 21 cm high including stand



Acquired on the London art market. Ex 'K' collection, 1990-2020s.

Amun-Min-Kamutef was a syncretic deity combining the attributes of Amun, the supreme god of the Egyptian pantheon, and Min who represents sexual procreativity. The iconography of Amun's ithyphallic form Kamutef is essentially that of Min, and serves to emphasise the sexual prowess of the god. Kamutef means 'bull of his mother' and appears to refer both to Amun's sky-goddess mother in her cow form and to the bull's sexual prowess and strength.

Ostrich feathers of Amun, delineated with a single vertical groove and curved tips; integral suspension loop to reverse; likely obsidian or basalt. 3.75 grams, 29 mm



From an early 20th century collection, Home Counties, UK, 1930-1940s.

The Pesesh-kef was a 'magical' ritual implement used in the ancient Egyptian Opening of the Mouth ceremony, which may have represented an implement used to cut umbilical cords. During the Opening of the Mouth ritual, priests held the implement to the mouth of a cult statue or mummy, allowing it to receive offerings.