Romano-Egyptian Green Faience Bead Group

Standing in advancing pose on a rectangular base; the god modelled with a disk representing the full-moon surmounting a crescent new moon atop his head and fronted by a uraeus, the falcon-head sports a finely striated tripartite wig and with beaded silver wire frames to the (once inlaid) eyes; wearing a broad wesekh collar; the left arm bent and fist drilled to grip a staff, right arm straight to the side with similar drilled fist; pleated shendyt kilt and belt to the hips; mounted on a tiered socle base. 896 grams total, 27 cm including stand

Very fine condition.

Smith family collection, Cambridge, UK since 1949. Private UK collection since 1978. Accompanied by a scholarly note by Egyptologist Paul Whelan. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11033-183985.

The moon god Khonsu (whose name means 'wanderer', referring to the passage of the moon across the sky) is known as a blood-thirsty sky-deity in the Pyramid Texts. In New Kingdom Thebes, however, he was regarded as a far more benevolent deity, being the child of Amun and Mut, and provided with his own temple at Karnak. There, he was considered to control destiny. Khonsu can appear in human form with a side-lock of youth, wearing an enveloping garment, and holding royal regalia, and also as a falcon-headed man with the full moon and crescent new moon headdress, as with this fine example. In his falcon-headed form he frequently holds an ankh symbol and a was-sceptre, for which the hands of this piece were drilled to accept the god's well-known attributes.

Wooden face from a coffin lid, D-shaped in plan with large almond-shaped eyes, holes for mounting pegs; accompanied by the original dealer's ticket from Phocion J. Tano of Cairo with handwritten description and signature 'Small masque of wood of the end of the Saïtic Period some four hundred years B.C. It is found close to the pyramid of Meïdun and it is genuine guaranteed and nothing ticked. It is as is found. Cairo the 14/4/65.'; mounted on a custom-made stand. 357 grams total, 20.8 cm high including stand



Ex Phocion J. Tano, Cairo, Egypt, 1965. Phocion Jean Tano (1898-1972) belonged to a family dynasty who founded and ran one of the oldest antiquities shops in Egypt, located in front of the old Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo. From a private UK family collection. Accompanied by an original handwritten and signed card receipt dated 14 April 1965 from Phocion J. Tano Antiquities Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.

Comprising three restrung, multi-stranded composition necklaces composed of mainly annular and tubular polychrome beads. 65 grams total, 68-70 cm long



Acquired before 1979. From the private collection of Mr F. A., South Kensington, London, UK; thence by descent 2014.