Egyptian Gold Swivel Ring of Horemheb

New Kingdom, 1550-1070 BC. A substantial gold finger ring with hollow-formed crescent shank, coiled wire sleeves to the shoulders, swivelling rectangular bezel with intaglio image to each face: advancing lion with hieroglyphs above, scorpion, crocodile, cartouche with hieroglyphs for the royal name 'Horemheb'. For similar cf. Musée du Louvre, Paris, Les Pharaons, catalogue d'exposition, 2002, p.61, 442, notice 137; ETIENNE M., Heika, catalogue d'exposition, 2000, p.65; DELANGE E., Petits guides des grands musées, Les bijoux de l'Antiquité egyptienne, 1990, p.15; also see Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 4, for type. 21.31 grams, 32mm overall, 18.10mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13) (1"). Property of a London lady, part of her family's Swiss collection; formerly acquired in the 1980s; accompanied by an independent specialist report and valuation by graduate gemmologist and jewellery expert, Anna Rogers, GIA GG, BA, Gem-A, ref. no. 0013/02/06/2020; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.157483-10016. The royal name Horemheb appears in a cartouche on the tenth pylon at Karnak, Egypt, where it forms part of a scene showing the king making an offering to Amun. His career began under the patronage of Tutankhamun with a rise from humble origins. He died without issue and was succeeded by his vizier, Paramesse, who adopted the royal title Ramesses I. The size of the ring indicates it probably served as a seal for applying official stamps. Signet rings of this type, which first appeared in the Middle Kingdom, were common during the New Kingdom. A video of this lot can be viewed on Timeline Auctions website.
Condition Report: Very fine condition. A large wearable size.