Egyptian Carnelian Miniature Snake Head Amulet
Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th to 20th Dynasty, ca. 1550–1069 BCE. A miniature amulet carved from translucent carnelian in the form of a cobra, its slender body tapering to a raised head poised to strike. The stone runs from deep orange to a glassy red where the polish is finest, the lapidary reducing the serpent to a few decisive planes: a swelling hood, a blunted snout, and a smoothly rounded tail. No suspension loop was drilled, so this example was never strung; it was likely laid directly on the body rather than worn as a pendant. Snake amulets of this type answered a practical terror as much as a theological one, invoked against snakebite in this world and in the next. Their form belongs to the standard funerary repertoire of the New Kingdom, produced in quantity and prized for the blood-warm color of carnelian itself. Size: 0.99" H x 0.23" Diam (2.5 cm H x 0.6 cm Diam). The Book of the Dead functioned in part as an instruction manual for the embalming priest, specifying where each amulet should be placed upon the wrapped body and which spell was to be recited to charge it with power. Spell 34 addresses the serpent directly, and amulets in the form of a snake or snake head were assigned to the throat and neck, precisely the reach of a striking cobra. Protection ran in both directions: the same object that turned aside a living bite was expected to repel the serpent demons the deceased would meet on the nocturnal journey through the underworld. Snake-head amulets were common in the New Kingdom and were ordinarily pierced and strung on a necklace. Carnelian was the material of choice for them, its red associated with blood, vitality, and the solar disk, and the stone was quarried in the Eastern Desert and Nubia. Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired between 1990 to 2005 SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item # 204783
Condition
Intact and excellent with smooth surfaces.
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th to 20th Dynasty, ca. 1550–1069 BCE. A miniature amulet carved from translucent carnelian in the form of a cobra, its slender body tapering to a raised head poised to strike. The stone runs from deep orange to a glassy red where the polish is finest, the lapidary reducing the serpent to a few decisive planes: a swelling hood, a blunted snout, and a smoothly rounded tail. No suspension loop was drilled, so this example was never strung; it was likely laid directly on the body rather than worn as a pendant. Snake amulets of this type answered a practical terror as much as a theological one, invoked against snakebite in this world and in the next. Their form belongs to the standard funerary repertoire of the New Kingdom, produced in quantity and prized for the blood-warm color of carnelian itself. Size: 0.99" H x 0.23" Diam (2.5 cm H x 0.6 cm Diam). The Book of the Dead functioned in part as an instruction manual for the embalming priest, specifying where each amulet should be placed upon the wrapped body and which spell was to be recited to charge it with power. Spell 34 addresses the serpent directly, and amulets in the form of a snake or snake head were assigned to the throat and neck, precisely the reach of a striking cobra. Protection ran in both directions: the same object that turned aside a living bite was expected to repel the serpent demons the deceased would meet on the nocturnal journey through the underworld. Snake-head amulets were common in the New Kingdom and were ordinarily pierced and strung on a necklace. Carnelian was the material of choice for them, its red associated with blood, vitality, and the solar disk, and the stone was quarried in the Eastern Desert and Nubia. Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired between 1990 to 2005 SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item # 204783
Condition
Intact and excellent with smooth surfaces.
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
