Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World (286)

Interesting stone bead with three bands of drilled concentric circles, some of them linked with lines. Remains of red pigment in the cavities.
The Ghaznavid dynasty originated from Turkic slave-guards and lasted from 977 to 1186 AD. At their greatest extent the Ghaznavids controlled large parts of Iran, Afghanistan, much of Transoxiana and the northwest of the Indian subcontinent.
For related examples, cf. Art Curial Paris, Archéologie et Arts d'Orient, 24 May 2016 sale, lot no...

Massive bronze bracelet of elaborate ornamental shape with neatly joining ends.
Bronze was very expensive in antiquity and such ingot-shaped bracelets showed the wealth of the owner. The bracelet could be reused at any time to cast or forge other artifacts or weapons.
Bronze
Eastern European, Late Bronze Age, 1200-800 BC
W. 8.7 cm (3.4 in)
Excellent condition...

Finely modeled shabti for the priest Ankh-Hap, who holds the title of a ‘Great Warrior’.
The inscription in one vertical column on the front begins with the sehedj-formula: The illuminated Osiris, the great warrior and revered master, Ankh-Hap.
The rather round face shows well-drawn eyes and eyebrows, a prominent nose and pursed lips...

Large openwork amulet plaque with the udjat eye set inside a rectangular frame. The tear duct rests on the feather of Maat.
Green glazed composition with black pupil and brow. Incised details.
Double sided, pierced longitudinally.
For a similar example, cf. fig. 46 in: Carol Andrews. Amulets of Ancient Egypt. London 1994.
Faience
Egyptian, Third Intermediate Period, 21st to 25th Dynasty, 1069-664 BC
W. 4.3 cm (1.7 in)
H...

Bichrome painted linen cartonnage fragment from the coffin of a lady named Hebu.
The curved outer surface is decorated with three lines of hieroglyphic text reading: (1) … with the companion of his glorified state … (2) [Heb]u justified (f), with the air … (3) Hebu justified …
The female name Hebu is recorded with Ranke, 236, 16.
Square openings on the side to fit the piece with other parts of the coffin.
Cartonnage is a type of material used in ancient Egypt ...

Faience shabti inscribed with six lines of horizontal text starting just below the crossed arms.
The spell reads: ‘The Governor of Upper Egypt, Anhh-Hor, he speaks, oh, this shabti’ and is followed by version VII-A of the shabti spell.
The inscription shows an exceptional orthography and archaic vocabulary reminiscent of the renaissance of ancient Egyptian culture at the beginning of the 26th Dynasty.
Ankh-Hor was a high rank official under Psammetichus II and Apries and...

Pa-Khaas’ father was Ankh-Hapi, the name of his mother was Hathor-em-akhet. The T-shaped inscription is reading: ‘The illuminated one, the Osiris, the ‘Overseer of the Royal Ships’, Pa-Khaas, born to Hathor-em-akhet, justified.’
The figure carries a pick with the left, the right with a hoe and a rope for a small basket suspended behind the left shoulder...

Rare funerary cone with three registers of sunk hieroglyphs reading: (1) The Bearer of the brazier (2) of the temple of Amun, (3) Nekhy.
This cone and a second one held in a Japanese collection are the only known examples of the type, which is enumerated as 650/B.23 by Zenihiro.
Both the name and the title on the cone are uncommon. The personal name Nekhy is not listed with Ranke...

Coptic tunic decoration, called clavus, with four registers containing a lion, a hare, a spotted lion and hare.
Wool on linen
Coptic, 4th/6th century AD
Textile size: 18 cm (7.1 in) x 4 cm (1.6 in)
Frame: 27 cm (10.6 in) x 15.5 cm (6.1 in)
Fragment, excellent condition.
Estate of Christian Grand, renowned Swiss art dealer, acquired 1900-1950.

The authenticity of the object is unconditionally guaranteed.

Amuletic figure of the canine god Wepwawet depicted on the bar of a standard. The front of the sledge is curved like a billowing sail and integrates a couple of rearing uraeus cobras.
The jackal wears a dog collar, the suspension loop behind is partially preserved. This small example was intended as a protective amulet.
For a related example, cf. acc. no...

Seated bronze cat with arched back and noble posture of the head. The tail curled around to the front. The small head with beady eyes and erect ears, mouth and nose engraved.
The cat features very long forelegs and a small chest, on which appears an incised necklace with a rudimentary Eye of Horus pendant.
Cats were the embodiment of Bastet, goddess of Bubastis and patroness of joy and women.
Bronze
Egyptian, Late Period, 26th-30th Dynasty, 664-332 BC
H...

Egyptian head of a king with tightly fitting headdress, the uraeus and the vulture partially preserved on the forehead.
Eyes and eyebrows recessed to bear inlays. Also the body of the rearing uraeus was originally inlayed.
Attractive facial features with slightly aquiline nose and full lips, the almond-shaped eyes with cosmetic lines to the outer corners. False beard missing.
For a related example, cf. inv. no...

Egyptian turquoise shabti depicted mummiform with tripartite wig and false beard. The big edgy head with faint features.
The barely visible hands crossed over the chest with no implements or basket. Flat back.
Turquoise faience with unglazed areas on the sides and on the head.
Related to items 5.3.4.82-93, pl...

Deep blue glazed faience shabti for Nesy-per-nub, one of the important priests in the second Cache of Deir El Bahri. His shabtis display text variants that refer to his various titles.
The two columns of hieroglyphic text read: (1) O shabti, say: I will irrigate [the riparian lands] (2) for the Osiris, the ‘Scribe of the temple of Mut’, Nesy-per-nub, justified.
The hieroglyph for the goddess Mut is cursorily rendered. Strangely enough, the craftsman forgot the hieroglyph/phone...

Slender bronze axe head with rounded cutting edge and eyelet on the narrow side.
The upper lobes bent inwards to better fit the forked shaft, which was fixed with twine or rawhide. Hook-like projections on the neck.
Palstave is the typical axe form of the Middle Bronze Age, 1500-1275 BC. Late palstave types tend to have narrower blades, as in our case.
For the type, cf. fig. 4.4.3, p. 83 in: Ulrike Weller. Äxte und Beile. Berlin 2018. The range of the type includes Central ...

Finely modeled faience amulet of the Egyptian dwarf god Pataikos.
The figure is shown nude, crouching with his legs apart on top of a square base. Pataikos holds his hands to either side of the protruding belly. A groove along the chest and abdomen to the navel.
Well shaped facial features, with a line incised at the limit of the shaven hair.
No back pillar. Legs and arms in open-work. Grooved loop for suspension to the back of the neck.
Ptah the Dwarf, also known un...

Upper part of the seated Isis nursing the Horus child (Harpokrates). The miniature scale head shows detailed facial features. The goddess wears the tripartite wig surmounted by a crown in the shape of the st-seat sign, the hieroglyphic sign used to write her name.
With her right hand she is presenting her left breast to her son, which is now lost.
Moldmade. Pale green to white faience with glossy surface.
For a related example, cf. fig. 154, p. 55 in: Aurélia Masson. Scarab...

Bright blue faience shabti inscribed with black hieroglyphs reading: “The Osiris Nes-Mut”.
Curiously, the epithet Osiris is noted here in retrograde writing in relation to the name.
The figurine wears a tripartite wig with a frontal band tied at the back. The face shows barely visible eyes and eyebrows. The arms are crossed and the hands hold two colored hoes. The seed bag behind is held by straps.
The name Nes-Mut is frequent since the New Kingdom, which makes it diff...