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LOT 0475
Romano-Egyptian Terracotta Figurine
1ST CENTURY B.C.-2ND CENTURY A.D.
7 5/8 in. (220 grams, 19.5 cm).
Hollow-formed figure modelled in the half-round with left arm raised and right arm bent carrying a vessel; piled hairstyle with lunar motif above; hole to the reverse. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceThe Erotica Collection Christian von Faber-Castell, Küsnacgt ZH, Switzerland, since the late 1970s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Cf. Weber, W. Die ägyptisch-griechischen terrakotten, Berlin, 1914, pl. 14, no. 144, for a similarly posed figure.
FootnotesChristian von Faber-Castell (born 1950) is a renowned German entrepreneur and art collector, best known as a member of the prominent Faber-Castell family, famed for their iconic writing instruments. A passionate advocate for art and culture, Christian von Faber-Castell curated an extensive and diverse private collection of erotica, spanning centuries and cultures. His collection reflects a deep appreciation for the interplay of beauty, sensuality, and artistic expression, bringing together rare and unique works that explore themes of intimacy and human connection. Pieces from this collection have been featured in notable exhibitions and are celebrated for their artistic and historical significance. This offering represents a rare opportunity to acquire works from one of the most fascinating and eclectic private collections of its kind.
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:
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Egyptian Orange Carnelian Poppy Head Amulet
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1550-1292 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Polished and with integral pierced suspension loop; element from a broad collar. 0.20 grams, 11 mm
Ex UK gallery, early 2000s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Amulets in the form of poppies were used to heal and alleviate pain and to ward off death. These types of amulets were also linked to Osiris, the Egyptian deity of agriculture, death, and the afterlife. -
Egyptian Terracotta Ithyphallic Figurine of Harpocrates
Ptolemaic Period, 3rd-2nd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
Naked ithyphallic youthful Harpocrates seated, with shaved head and side-lock, his enormous phallus wrapped around on his neck. 160 grams, 84 mm
The Erotica Collection Christian von Faber-Castell, Küsnacgt ZH, Switzerland, since the late 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Ithyphallic figures in limestone, terracotta, gypsum and faience are relatively common in the 6th to 3rd-century B.C. deposits of Lower Egypt. Despite considerable variations, the group consistently depicts a seated ithyphallic plump baby with shaved head (or skull cap) and side-lock. They were identified by Gutch as Khonsu-Horus figures and subsequently by Bailey as Harpocrates, the Greek name for young Horus. Christian von Faber-Castell (born 1950) is a renowned German entrepreneur and art collector, best known as a member of the prominent Faber-Castell family, famed for their iconic writing instruments. A passionate advocate for art and culture, Christian von Faber-Castell curated an extensive and diverse private collection of erotica, spanning centuries and cultures. His collection reflects a deep appreciation for the interplay of beauty, sensuality, and artistic expression, bringing together rare and unique works that explore themes of intimacy and human connection. Pieces from this collection have been featured in notable exhibitions and are celebrated for their artistic and historical significance. This offering represents a rare opportunity to acquire works from one of the most fascinating and eclectic private collections of its kind. -
Large Egyptian Steatite Scarab of Thutmose III
New Kingdom, 1504-1450 B.C. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £351
Pierced longitudinally with a detailed carapace, the underside is decorated with the image of a coiled cobra wearing the dual crown of Egypt facing the hieroglyphs giving the throne name of King Thutmose III (mn-ḫpr-RꜤ). 5.29 grams, 28 mm
From the collection of Walter Thomas Gaze Cooper (1895-1980); thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The popularity of this great Egyptian pharaoh was such that his name appeared on scarabs during his reign and into the Late Period.