Ancient Egyptian 'Osiris' Statuette. Copper alloy, 75 grams; 80.46 mm. Circa 1st Millennium B.C. A standing figure of Osiris, he is shown holding a crook and flail, symbols of office for the crowned Egyptian Pharaoh. The flail symbolizes the Pharaoh's role as provider of food for his people and the crook symbolizes his role as the shepherd of his people. Both crook and flail also serve to link the Pharaoh with Osiris. The Egyptians also used flails to beat enemy captives or slaves. Because of this flails were considered a sign of power. Pharaohs would hold flails to show their power. He is also wearing the Atef crown, a form of the white crown of upper Egypt with a plume of feathers to either side. Mounted and in Very Fine condition. From an old collection.

Ancient Egyptian 'Osiris' Statuette. Copper alloy, 75 grams; 80.46 mm. Circa 1st Millennium B.C. A standing figure of Osiris, he is shown holding a crook and flail, symbols of office for the crowned Egyptian Pharaoh. The flail symbolizes the Pharaoh's role as provider of food for his people and the crook symbolizes his role as the shepherd of his people. Both crook and flail also serve to link the Pharaoh with Osiris. The Egyptians also used flails to beat enemy captives or slaves. Because of this flails were considered a sign of power. Pharaohs would hold flails to show their power. He is also wearing the Atef crown, a form of the white crown of upper Egypt with a plume of feathers to either side. Mounted and in Very Fine condition. From an old collection.

Ancient Egyptian 'Scarab' Swivel Ring. Gold and faience, 11.02 grams; 26.42 mm; internal, 17.43 mm [Approx size O 1/2; US size 7 1/4]. Circa 1st Millennium B.C. A blue glazed faience scarab, beneath are a series of undeciphered hieroglyphics. Set into a 19th Century gold ring with an axis bar so the scarab can swivel on the bezel and show both the beetle and hieroglyphics. Made from ancient gold from the Timber Mine near Jerusalem. Purchased in the Old City, Jerusalem, in 1967. Ex. Bond Collection. Good Very Fine condition.

Ancient Egyptian 'Scarab' Swivel Ring. Gold and faience, 11.02 grams; 26.42 mm; internal, 17.43 mm [Approx size O 1/2; US size 7 1/4]. Circa 1st Millennium B.C. A blue glazed faience scarab, beneath are a series of undeciphered hieroglyphics. Set into a 19th Century gold ring with an axis bar so the scarab can swivel on the bezel and show both the beetle and hieroglyphics. Made from ancient gold from the Timber Mine near Jerusalem. Purchased in the Old City, Jerusalem, in 1967. Ex. Bond Collection. Good Very Fine condition.

Egyptian 'Baboon' Statuette. Terracotta, 80 grams; 78.53 mm. Circa 1st Century B.C. - 2nd Century A.D. The almost complete figure of a baboon with human like limbs and phallus, each snapped halfway so it could be thrown and offered to the gods. All over it's body is ring and dot decoration. Very Fine condition.

Egyptian 'Baboon' Statuette. Terracotta, 80 grams; 78.53 mm. Circa 1st Century B.C. - 2nd Century A.D. The almost complete figure of a baboon with human like limbs and phallus, each snapped halfway so it could be thrown and offered to the gods. All over it's body is ring and dot decoration. Very Fine condition.

In ancient Egypt, baboons and monkeys often play a significant and mysterious role in religion and elsewhere. This somehow seems strange, as there are certainly no native monkeys or baboons to Egypt, nor have there been for some time stretching back to antiquity. However, it is clear that prehistoric Egyptians of the fourth millennium BC were familiar with monkeys, including the imposing and dangerous baboons and the African long-tailed monkey. Since that time, they have held a permanent place in ancient Egyptian religion as one of the more important animal forms into which the gods might be transformed. Also the very word "baboon" may be derived from ancient Egypt, perhaps from a linguistic root that characterized its sexual activities.

Ancient Egyptian 'Mosaic' Glass Boss. Glass, 1.04 grams, 15.93 mm. Circa 1st Millennium B.C. A stunning glass boss, made with a cooked blue glass fused with white glass to form a magnificent polka dot design. Very Fine condition and would make a great intaglio for a ring or pendant.

Ancient Egyptian 'Mosaic' Glass Boss. Glass, 1.04 grams, 15.93 mm. Circa 1st Millennium B.C. A stunning glass boss, made with a cooked blue glass fused with white glass to form a magnificent polka dot design. Very Fine condition and would make a great intaglio for a ring or pendant.

Phoenician 'Scarab' Seal. Stone, 2.06 grams, 20.85 mm. 1st Millennium B.C. A seal in the form of a scarab beetle, running horizontally through the centre is a hole for suspension. On the flat part, which forms the seal, is a depiction of two beasts fighting. This is a typical Phoenician seal showing the interconnectedness with Egyptian culture. Very Fine condition. Ex. Old London collection.

Phoenician 'Scarab' Seal. Stone, 2.06 grams, 20.85 mm. 1st Millennium B.C. A seal in the form of a scarab beetle, running horizontally through the centre is a hole for suspension. On the flat part, which forms the seal, is a depiction of two beasts fighting. This is a typical Phoenician seal showing the interconnectedness with Egyptian culture. Very Fine condition. Ex. Old London collection.

Around the beginning of the first millennium B.C., Phoenician seal engravers adopted the use of the scarab, an Egyptian symbol of regeneration. In typical Phoenician fashion, the seals were decorated with Egyptian motifs that are juxtaposed out of context, sometimes with non-Egyptian animal subjects. Popular subjects included the birth of Horus and scenes of his mother Isis nursing him as an infant. Winged protective deities and genies were also favorite themes. Iconographically, the seals of the eighth to seventh centuries B.C. have a close dependence on Phoenician carved bowls and ivories. Phoenician scarab seals reached a peak of popularity in the fifth to fourth centuries B.C., when they spread throughout the Mediterranean. The city of Tharros on Sardinia was a major center of production and distribution. By this time, the seals were carved with not only Egyptian themes but also Etruscan and western Greek imagery.

Ancient Egyptian 'Scarab' Seal. Green stone, 5.06 grams, 19.74 mm. 2nd Millennium B.C. Four lines of splendid hieroglyphics are carved into the flat bottom; on the top is a depiction a scarab beetle with wings tucked in, with a hole running from the head to the back for suspension. A rare item in Very Fine condition.

Ancient Egyptian 'Scarab' Seal. Green stone, 5.06 grams, 19.74 mm. 2nd Millennium B.C. Four lines of splendid hieroglyphics are carved into the flat bottom; on the top is a depiction a scarab beetle with wings tucked in, with a hole running from the head to the back for suspension. A rare item in Very Fine condition.

Most scarab seals were used to commemorate special occasions. Amenhotep III issued several scarabs recording important events such as his marriage, a wild cattle hunt and the building of a pleasure lake on which he sailed his royal barge. These were sent to some of the King's noble friends and to the governors of cities or provinces throughout Egypt to tell them the news of his achievements.

Ancient Egyptian 'Coptic' Hand Pin/Finial. Bronze, 5.66 grams; 60.77 mm. Circa 30 B.C. - 300 A.D. An ancient Egyptian hand pin or finial similar to some amulets, from the Coptic period, the time following the suicide of Queen Cleopatra. This was when Egypt become a province of the Roman empire, and the Coptic Christian church was formed by St.Mark. Very Fine Condition.

Ancient Egyptian 'Coptic' Hand Pin/Finial. Bronze, 5.66 grams; 60.77 mm. Circa 30 B.C. - 300 A.D. An ancient Egyptian hand pin or finial similar to some amulets, from the Coptic period, the time following the suicide of Queen Cleopatra. This was when Egypt become a province of the Roman empire, and the Coptic Christian church was formed by St.Mark. Very Fine Condition. SOLD