Romano-Egyptian Silver Ring with Cat and Kittens

The monkey holding a kohl pot of roughly cylindrical form; set on an integral oval base; rim of kohl perforated twice; mounted on a custom-made display base. 21.2 grams total, 37 mm high including stand



with François de Riqules, Archéologie, 11-12 November 2001, lot 198.

Comprising three restrung composition necklaces, each composed of multiple strands of polychrome beads of mainly annular and tubular types. 75 grams total, 68-76 cm long



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

Red and yellow faience were among the new colours appeared in the XVIIIth Dynasty, but they were in use until the Late Period. It was ideally formed from a core of sand and quartz and a vitreous alkaline glaze. It was the preferred medium of Egyptian jewellers even before the Fist Dynasty, because of its malleability and its ability to imitate other more expensive materials thanks to the colour of the glaze.

The male figure of a kneeling supplicant with back pillar inscribed with hieroglyphic text: 'Neith gives life [to] ...'. 54 grams total, 76 mm including stand



Private collection S., Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, acquired in the first half of the 20th century. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate number S00140657, dated 23 October 2018.

This figure was likely attached to a separately cast base and positioned kneeling before a larger figure of the goddess Neith. Such objects were donated to temples to secure the god or goddess's protection for the donor, represented by the kneeling figure.