The Derek Content Collection of Ancient Gold and Silver Statuettes Part I Already in 1974, Cornelius Vermeule lamented the lack of serious scholarship on "the important subject of classical sculpture in the precious metals". This situation remains essentially unchanged today. His study Greek and Roman Sculpture in Gold and Silver, (BMFA, 1974) remains the sole comprehensive listing. Encouraged by Dr. Vermeule and Jiri Frel, I decided to form a collection of this material with a view to eventually publishing a large enough grouping to allow scholars to study this miniature yet often monumental art form in more detail. However, my other collections of ancient cameos, and Islamic engraved gems and rings, always took precedence and despite collecting more than 160 ancient figurines, the planned catalogue was postponed time and time again. I have now accepted that keeping the objects in a vault is not helping scholarship either and it is my hope that today's initial sale will encourage somebody else take up the baton.

TWO EGYPTIAN GOLD PENDANTS

CIRCA 6TH-1ST CENTURY B.C.

Details

TWO EGYPTIAN GOLD PENDANTS
CIRCA 6TH-1ST CENTURY B.C.
Comprising one of striding Sekhmet, the lion-headed goddess with left foot forward, wearing tight-fitting garment, tripartite wig and the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt with uraeus; and the striding figure of Nefertem, left leg advanced, wearing a belted pleated kilt and crowned with his characteristic lotus-form menat-flanked headdress topped with plumes, both with suspension loops
1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm.) and 7/8 in. (2.3 cm.) high respectively

Provenance

Item one:
Formerly in the Maurice Nahman collection (1868-1948).
Anonymous sale: Christie's London, 28 April 2004, lot 325.
Derek Content collection, UK.
Item two:
Derek Content collection, UK, acquired Safani Gallery, late 1970s.

Sale room notice

Please note that the estimate for this lot should read £2,500-3,500.

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Lot Essay

At Memphis, Nefertem was considered a son of Ptah and Sekhmet, the moody and potentially dangerous leonine goddess. Her fierce nature was passed along to her son, who was thought to be harmful to newborn children. In order to appease him, it was necessary to make statuary offerings and amuletic pendants such as this one.

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