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LOT 0011
Two Egyptian Cylindrical Alabaster Jars
EARLY DYNASTIC PERIOD, CIRCA 3100-2900 B.C.
2 1/2 - 4 1/2 in. (1 kg total, 6.4-11.5 cm high).
The larger with rounded rim, concave body and flat base, the smaller with cylindrical body and flat disc rim. [2]
ProvenanceMary Stout Shaw (1880-1962); thence by direct descent to the present owner.
Accompanied by a copy of a 1976 family photo featuring some of the collection on display, the larger kohl jar is clearly visible on a 1976 family photo.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12198-220885.
Cf. Aston, B.G., Ancient Egyptian Stone Vessels: Materials and Forms, SAGA 5, Heidelberg, 1994, pp.102-3, nos.31-32, for similar vessels.
FootnotesMary Kilgour Stone was born in 1880 in Cincinnati, Ohio. On 25 November 1903, she married Percy Wyfold Stout from Gloucester (DSO, OBE, 1875-1937), who had moved to Cairo after an international rugby career.
After fighting in the First World War, Percy became the Director of the Egyptian Delta Land Company and the Anglo-American Nile Tourist Company. He and Mary were friends with the famous Major Gayer-Anderson, who worked as a doctor on the company’s cruise boats between 1930 and 1939. Gayer-Anderson tells in his memoir how this allowed him to make frequent trips to Upper Egypt and fulfil his passion for collecting (and dealing in) ancient Egyptian art.
In his company, Mary became an enthusiast about all things Egypt and formed an elegant collection of ancient Egyptian alabaster vessels,
including the following lots. She was particularly fascinated with the ancient cat goddess Bastet. Therefore, when Gayer-Anderson decided
to give his famous ancient bronze cat to the British Museum in 1939, he made sure the donation was in both his name and Mary Stout Shaw’s,
as a tribute to their friendship.
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AUCTIONS:
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Egyptian Alabaster Vase
New Kingdom, circa 1550-1315 B.C. or earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £156
Round in profile with flattened underside, squared rim (possibly incomplete); with old collector's manuscript note: 'Old Kingdom between 3000-1200 B.C.'. 52 grams, 39 mm
Ex Yorkshire, UK, collection, 1960s-1980s. Accompanied by an old handwritten identification slip. -
Egyptian Silver Cat Amulet
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Modelled seated on a tongue-shaped base, with facial detailing and suspension loop to the back. 0.33 grams, 8 mm
From an early 20th century collection.
The cat was sacred to Bastet, a protective mother goddess and the daughter of the sun god Re. Amulets provided the wearer with the goddess's protection. -
Egyptian Wooden Head of an Ibis
Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, circa 664-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
Naturalistically carved ibis head from a composite statuette, with carefully detailed beak and eyes; traces of gesso and gilding remain; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 116 grams total, 18.5 cm wide
American private collection, New York, acquired in London before 2000.
The ibis was sacred to the god Thoth, who was revered for his association with knowledge, writing, and healing. The god also acted as the recorder of the final judgment, which determined whether the deceased had lived a life of virtue. Vast numbers of ibises were mummified in religious centres such as Saqqara and Tuna el-Gebel, where they were offerings to the god and interred in extensive catacombs.
