A PALE BLUE FAIENCE ‘BES’ AMULET AND A DARK GREEN STONE ‘HEART’ AMULET, LATE PERIOD-PTOLEMAIC PERIOD

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A PALE BLUE FAIENCE ‘BES’ AMULET AND A DARK GREEN STONE ‘HEART’ AMULET, LATE PERIOD-PTOLEMAIC PERIOD This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2005: “No. 23, HH, Late P. Hardstone” “No. 18, HH, Late P. mini Bes” Gallery price: EUR 230 (total) or approx. EUR 380 (total) adjusted for inflation at the time of writing. Egypt, 664-30 BC. The faience amulet, boldly modeled, depicting on both sides the leonine dwarf god Bes, rendered with highly schematic and rudimentary anthropomorphic features, distinguished primarily by his characteristic feathered crown, perforated transversely for suspension. The hardstone amulet, carved in the form of a heart, with an elongated pyriform body, featuring two serrated lugs projecting from either side and a distinctive rectangular terminal, surmounted by a rounded ridge at the top. The stone of a dark tone, with subtle greenish mottling and scattered brown speckles. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Length 0.8 and 2.1 g Several protective deities were depicted as dwarfish figures in ancient Egypt, with the mane of a lion, ears, and tail, often surmounted by a plumed headdress. These divinities are now collectively referred to as the Bes image. The sphere of influence of the Bes image was primarily the household, where it was believed to avert evil through music, knives, or the ‘sa’ sign, while watching over the occupants of the home. This figure was especially associated with the protection of women and children, and over time this function extended to certain temple contexts, particularly birth houses dedicated to deities. As a result, the Bes image became a widely used and popular amulet. Egyptian physicians generally did not practice internal surgery, and detailed knowledge of the interior of the human body was largely confined to embalmers. Although intended to represent a human heart, the small stone amulet exhibits a bovine rather than a human form. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related faience amulet of Bes, dated Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 6th-2nd century BC, 1.3 cm high, in the British Museum, registration number 9,9,86,88. Compare a closely related dark green stone amulet in the shape of a heart, dated Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 1.8 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 04.2.69.

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