EGYPTIAN AND ANCIENT NEAREASTERN ART
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| 8107. GRAND TOUR EGYPTIAN BRONZE PLAQUE, c. 19th century. The round plaque finely engraved with pharoah’s head and heiroglyphs. 3.5 inches diameter. Grand tour antique reproductions are very collectible in their own right and this is a very nice example with excellent engraving. $150 estimate. |  |
| 7971. BABYLONIAN MARBLE DUCK WEIGHT OR PENDANT, c. 1st millennium BC. Carved and polished white marble in the form of a sleeping duck with head resting on its back. 30 mm. Perfectly balanced on original suspension hole. Choice example and would make a great pendant. $2500 estimate. |  |
| 7972. MESOPOTAMIAN STAMP SEAL, c. 2rd millennium BC. Carved black steatite with mouflon and another animal. Original suspension hole drilled laterally. 25 mm. Excellent condition and would make a wonderful and unique pendant! $1500 estimate. |  |
| 7973. FINE BABYLONIAN/NEO-ASSYRIAN BANDED AGATE AMULET WITH CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTION, c. 1st millennium BC. The amulet carved with 9 cuneiform characters beginning PA-A-N, apparently a talismanic invocation. A drawing of the inscription is included. The amulet has an original lengthwise suspension hole drilled through. 23 x 23 mm. Rare and nice. $3000 estimate. |  |
| 7739. BABYLONIAN/HEBREW DEVIL TRAP BOWL, c. 3rd century BC - 6th century AD. The terra-cotta bowl inscribed with charms and magical texts, used by the ancient Hebrews in parts of Babylonia. The bowl was to drive away evil. The inverted bowls were buried under the four corners of the foundations of houses and buildings. The magic from the bowls was believed to provide protection against an assortment of evils including male and female demons, illnesses, curses, and the evil eye. The Babylonian devil traps were in usage between the third and first centuries BC to the sixth century AD. They were considered a pagan custom and were technically prohibited by the Hebrew religion which proscribes magic in general. Perhaps to circumvent this religious law the bowls were inscribed with inscriptions invoking the help of God or quotes from Hebrew scriptures. One bowl from the third century BC. proclaims a "bill of divorce" from the Devil, and all of his night monsters, commanding them to leave the community. 2.5 x 6.5 inches with especially clear script. Carefully repaired from three shards. $3250 estimate. |  |
| 7740. ESPECIALLY LARGE BABYLONIAN/HEBREW DEVIL TRAP BOWL, c. 3rd century BC - 6th century AD. The terra-cotta bowl inscribed with charms and magical texts, used by the ancient Hebrews in parts of Babylonia. The bowl was to drive away evil. The inverted bowls were buried under the four corners of the foundations of houses and buildings. The magic from the bowls was believed to provide protection against an assortment of evils including male and female demons, illnesses, curses, and the evil eye. The Babylonian devil traps were in usage between the third and first centuries BC to the sixth century AD. They were considered a pagan custom and were technically prohibited by the Hebrew religion which proscribes magic in general. Perhaps to circumvent this religious law the bowls were inscribed with inscriptions invoking the help of God or quotes from Hebrew scriptures. One bowl from the third century BC. proclaims a "bill of divorce" from the Devil, and all of his night monsters, commanding them to leave the community. 4 x 10.75 inches. Intact with considerable remains of script inside and out. Script more legible than image shows. $2500 estimate. |  |
| 7618. AN IMPORTANT XVIII DYNASTY EGYPTIAN IBIS, New Kingdom, 1550-1295 BC. The ibis with gold leafed wooden body and cast bronze head and neck and legs with additional fine chased detailing of the scales of the legs and the beak, the eyes inlaid with glass. Mounted on a wooden base together with a small bronze figure of Osiris. The ibis 7.5 x 9.5 x 3 inches, one toe partial otherwise in excellent condition with much of the gold leaf remaining now professionally stabilized. The Osiris 3.75 inches and also in excellent condition. Provenance: Excavated in the Fayum in the early 20th century. From the collection of an archaeologist active in Egypt during that period. $15,000 estimate. |  |
| 7619. A RARE EGYPTIAN EROTIC TERRACOTTA EX CHRISTIES. c. 2nd century AD. Solid molded terracotta group representing the god Bes squatting with his huge erect member pointing off to one side, a smaller partially nude female figure standing beside him. Chip to top of female’s head, otherwise intact with considerable white and pink pigment remaining. On custom wood base, Christies’ 1980 and other old tags on bottom. 4 x 4.5 inches. A rare and desirable type. Clearer than image shows. $2800 estimate. |  |
| 7620. A CHOICE EGYPTIAN EROTIC TERRACOTTA EX CHRISTIES. c. 2nd century AD. Molded terracotta group representing a nude female wearing nothing but a fancy hairdo, her legs spread wide revealing her sex. 4.5 x 4.5 inches. Right lower leg missing. Very fine modeling with excellent sharp detail. A rare and desirable type. Museum quality. Ex. Christies 1980. $4000 estimate. |  |
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