Art Treasures From The Earliest Christian Civilization
TEXTILES BONE PILGRIM OTHER
TEXTILES
VERY RARE COPTIC ART 7302. GILT LEATHER SHOE OF A NOBLE LADY. Egypt, Coptic Period, 4th-6th century AD. Of very fine manufacture with ornate thin leather strips and whorls attached, many with remains of gilding. 3.5 x 8.5 inches. Flattened but in generally excellent original condition, complete with no repair or restoration and all original gilding. Exceptionally rare, a museum quality artifact.
Provenance: The collection of a prominent Egyptologist by descent. Acquired in the first half of the 20th century. Brought to the US in 1954 with the family.
$6000.
7275. LARGE COPTIC TEXTILE. Egypt, Christian Period, c. 4th-6th century AD. Fine double-weave fabric with numerous alternating medallions of riders and fishes between fine geometric borders, Adam & Eve with birds in terminal rectangular medallion. 11 x 53 inches. In two sections. Provenance: From the estate of a prominent Egyptologist active in the early part of the 20th century. Brought to the US with the family in 1954.
7276. LARGE COPTIC TEXTILE. Egypt, Christian Period, c. 4th-6th century AD. Fine double-weave fabric with fishes, birds and mermaids. 6.5 x 36 inches. Provenance: From the estate of a prominent Egyptologist active in the early part of the 20th century. Brought to the US with the family in 1954.
BONE CARVINGS
MEROITIC? BONE CARVING WITH INSCRIPTION 7406. MEROITIC? BONE CARVING OF A NUDE MALE, c. 2nd century BC - 6th century AD. The bushy-haired figure carved in relief standing right, hands at sides, the reverse with additional detail including a six character inscription in what appears to be Meroitic or a related script from the areas south of Egypt proper. Meroitic was replaced by the Coptic alphabet in the 6th century AD however the Nubian form of the Coptic alphabet retained three Meroitic letters. 1.1 x 2.8 inches. Finely age-polished and patinaed surface, chip to bottom. Meroitic inscriptions are extremely rare!
EARLY CHRISTIAN DEPICTION OF EVE 7405. COPTIC BONE CARVING OF EVE HOLDING THE APPLE, c. 4th-6th century AD. Facing nude Eve with right hand raised to her breast holding the apple of the knowledge of good and evil, her left hand covering her sex. 1.75 x 3.5 inches. Finely age-polished and patinaed surface.
7550. FINE COPTIC BONE CARVING WITH EARLY PAPERS, c. 640 AD. Coptic refers to the Christian period in Egypt which began in late Roman times and continued until the Islamic conquest in AD 641. The period produced a distinctive artistic style producing fine woven textiles and bone carvings some of which have been preserved due to the arid climate of the region. The current piece is a finely carved head with thick strands of woolly hair. At the top front of the hair is a small animal head best seen from the reverse. Dimensions: 57 x 25 mm. (2.24 x 0.98"). Weight: 15.53 gms. Composition: Polished bone with old patina. Provenance: This piece comes with old papers with tax or export stamp from the Cairo antiquities dealer Khodary M. El Gabry giving its find spot. The certificate is not dated but must be earlier than 1971 as the name of Egypt is given as the United Arab Republic (U.A.R.). Certificate.
