Romano-Egyptian Terracotta Toad Oil Lamp

Part of a tapering cone, with the circular flat end impressed with two columns of hieroglyphic text reading: 'Deputy of the great army, Amenemheb'. 333 grams, 90 mm



Acquired from Abdoul Rassoul on the West Bank at Luxor, 1974-1980 when a guest lecturer. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Amenemheb's tomb in the Theban necropolis at Sheikh Abd el-Qurna is numbered TT 85. Amenemhab (also known as Mahu), was an important military official who served under pharaohs Thutmose III and Amenhotep II.

Barrel-shaped in profile, with a stepped shoulder, wide neck, and broad, flared flange rim at the mouth, supported by two lateral strap handles; applied wreath decoration to the outer edge of the shoulder and vertical fronds to the lower body; restored. 1.48 kg, 17.8 cm high



Stift Neuberg (Neuberg Abbey) collection, Heidelberg, Germany, by 1893 and into the 20th century. Anonymous sale; Münzen und Medaillen, Auktion 41, 1972, no.151. Fiorella Cottier-Angeli collection, Geneva, 1981-2007. Herbert A. Cahn, acquired from the above. With Galerie Günter Puhze, Freiburg, 2007. Private collection, Midwest USA, acquired in 2007. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13477-262436.

Stift Neuberg was privately owned from 1798 until 1926. By 1893, a collection of antiquities had been assembled there, and its Greek and Roman holdings were published. It is believed that the amphora was acquired as part of this collection by Friedrich Alexander von Bernus (1838–1908), who inherited Stift Neuberg from his relative Johann Friedrich Schlosser (1780-1851), a nephew of Goethe. In 1926, the abbey was sold to the Benedictines and has remained a religious establishment ever since.

Comprising: restrung necklace of mainly white annular beads and a pendant with a fragment of original mummy cloth and an old card label: 'Ancient Egyptian Necklace of Beads in bright blue glaze B.C. 900 From Prof. Petrie's excavations. Selected & finely matched beads ...specimens of ... colour' and old card label 'Blue Egyptian Necklace and Mummy Cloth'; restrung necklace of blue tubular beads with fragment of original mummy cloth and old card label 'Ancient Egyptian Necklace of the rare disc beads of B.C. 900. Fine glaze and colours. From Prof. Petrie's excavations at Gurob. Specimen of mummy cloth attached'. 20 grams total, 46-100 cm



Ex Petrie excavations early 20th century. From the estate of a deceased Sussex private collector since the early 20th century. Accompanied by two old handwritten labels.