From ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate Period, ca. 950-700 BC. Lion-headed goddess Sekhmet seated on an open-work throne, the sides of which are decorated with figures of the  More »

From ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate Period, ca. 950-700 BC. Lion-headed goddess Sekhmet seated on an open-work throne, the sides of which are decorated with figures of the snake god, Nehebka. The goddess carries a sistrum. Bright blue with added details in black. 6 cm. Sekhmet was the lioness-headed goddess of war and destruction. She was the sister and wife of Ptah. She was created by the fire of Re's eye. Re created her as a weapon of vengeance to destroy men for their wicked ways and disobedience to him (see The Story of Re). Having once unleashed her powers for the destruction of mankind, the Egyptians feared a repeat performance by Sekhmet. The Egyptian people developed an elaborate ritual in hopes she could be appeased. This ritual revolved around more than 700 statues of the goddess (such as the one to the left). The ancient Egyptian priests were required to perform a ritual before a different one of these statues each morning and each afternoon of every single day of every single year. Only by the strictest adherence to this never-ending ritual could the ancient Egyptians be assured of their ability to placate Sekhmet. She is generally portrayed as a woman with the head of a lioness surmounted by the solar disk and the uraeus. The name "Sekhmet" comes from the root sekhem which means "to be strong, mighty, violent". She was identified with the goddess Bastet, and they were called the Goddesses of the West (Sekhmet) and the East (Bastet). Both were shown with the heads of lionesses although Bastet was said to wear green, while Sekhmet wore red.   « Less

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Third Intermediate Period. Bight blue faience depiction of a cat in an upright, alert stance. Finely-detailed. 4cm.  More »

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Third Intermediate Period. Bight blue faience depiction of a cat in an upright, alert stance. Finely-detailed. 4cm. PROVENANCE: Ex-private French Collection, old collection sticker still under base. .   « Less

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Ca. 1st century BC - 1st century AD. Very impressive and very detailed mummy mask of a woman. Plaster gilded jewelry,  More »

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Ca. 1st century BC - 1st century AD. Very impressive and very detailed mummy mask of a woman. Plaster gilded jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. 23"H. PROVENANCE: Ex-private Swiss Collection.   « Less

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Egypt, Late Period to Ptolemaic Period. The most unusual mummy mask we have ever seen. Very realistic stare to the side.  More »

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Egypt, Late Period to Ptolemaic Period. The most unusual mummy mask we have ever seen. Very realistic stare to the side. Red veins in the eyes. The lack of any wig is most unusual. PROVENANCE: Ex-private Swiss Collection.   « Less

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Finely-detailed and large Ptah Sokar Osiris; nice glyphs on front and back, gilded face with almond eyes and a slight  More »

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Finely-detailed and large Ptah Sokar Osiris; nice glyphs on front and back, gilded face with almond eyes and a slight smile. A rare style in that it is in two halves, put together like a small mummy coffin with pegs. Traces of linen still remaining inside. Just over 25"H (64 cm)! The mummiform appearance and the crown of ostrich feathers, rams, and solar disk are fixed attributes of this syncretistic deity. The heavy tripartite wig and long curved beard are both emblems of divinity. Most noteworthy in the respect is the figurines finish with gold leaf over a coating of white gesso. Gold is not just precious material, it is a divine substance: according to the ancient Egyptians, the flesh of the gods was made of gold, and their bones of silver. Because gold does not corrode, it became a symbol of eternity and immortality. Its association with the sun and its revivifying rays also contributed to this symbolism. Thus, gold is most fitting material for figurines of divinities, particularly for such patrons of resurrection as Ptah-Sokar-Osiris   « Less

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. From Egypt's Late / Ptolemaic periods, 664-30 BC. Very fine ancient Egyptian round-topped polychrome wood stele, upper  More »

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. From Egypt's Late / Ptolemaic periods, 664-30 BC. Very fine ancient Egyptian round-topped polychrome wood stele, upper portion decorated with a winged sun disk and two uraei underneath. Below, the female owner of the stele is represented in the framed register, depicted standing, wearing sandals and a long gown, with arms raised in adoration, before the God Osiris on the left, depicted mummiform, wearing the plumed atef-crown and false beard, arms emerging with hands holding an implement. To his right, a falcon-headed deity, depicted mummiform with a disc-crown, holding a was scepter in both hands. Between the owner and figures is an offering stand with libation vessel on top. Hieroglyphic inscription underneath figures, above figures and between both deities. 14"H (36cm) x 703/4"W (20cm).   « Less

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. From ancient Egypt, upper mummy coffin with finely detailed face with large feathered wig, scarab on forehead, painted  More »

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. From ancient Egypt, upper mummy coffin with finely detailed face with large feathered wig, scarab on forehead, painted depiction of a faience beaded necklace on neck. Delicate hands, gentle profile. Original paint. Nice striking example of Egyptian art. Great addition to any serious Egyptian collection. 73 cm (28-3/4"H). Exhibited: "Egypt Ancienne" March-April 1997, Numega.   « Less

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Ptolemaic Period, ca. 304-30 BC. Sculpted in raised relief with the torso of a King, moving to the right,wearing a kilt  More »

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Ptolemaic Period, ca. 304-30 BC. Sculpted in raised relief with the torso of a King, moving to the right,wearing a kilt just below his rounded navel, a staff in his extended left hand, his fingernails delineated, a bolt of cloth (?) in his fisted right hand, part of his broad collar below his unfinished neck and a lappet of his nemes-head cloth; zigzag scratches at the upper right corner where the carving tool was honed. 5-1/2"W (14 cm). For a similar example see no. 80 in Tomoum, The Sculptor's Models of the Late and Ptolemaic Periods   « Less

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Rare faience tile from King Djoser's Step pyramid. Intact with small chip. Hieroglyph on back for place marker. This type  More »

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Rare faience tile from King Djoser's Step pyramid. Intact with small chip. Hieroglyph on back for place marker. This type of faience tile-decoration was invented by Imhotep, the genius architect of king Djoser (Netjri-khet) to cover some of the walls of the substructures of the Step Pyramid and the so-called " South Tomb ". The panel was reconstructed from original elements found below the Pyramid. This panel was meant to imitate curtains made of reed matting in older constructions, but used now to decorate the galleries and royal apartments surrounding Djoser's funerary chamber. It's colors are quite vibrant and well contrasted with the white stone. 6 cm.   « Less

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. From ancient Egypt, Late Period. Double-sided faience, very well detailed; nice color. 6.2 cm (2-3/8").

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. From ancient Egypt, Late Period. Double-sided faience, very well detailed; nice color. 6.2 cm (2-3/8").   « Less