61 - A CARNELIAN ‘CAT’ AMULET, BASTET, NEW KINGDOM

A CARNELIAN ‘CAT’ AMULET, BASTET, NEW KINGDOM Expert Note: High-quality carnelian was difficult to obtain, quarried in limited deposits in Nubia and the Eastern Desert, and prized for its translucency and saturated color. While ordinary carnelian was worked into the beads and ornaments that circulated widely in Egypt, only the finest material was selected for amulets, where clarity and brilliance carried protective force. Such use places the present amulet in an elite tradition, echoed by the rich array of carnelian jewels discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamun, where the stone’s fiery hue symbolized vitality, solar energy, and rebirth in the afterlife. Egypt, c. 1550-1069 BC. Naturalistically depicted on an integral base, the tail wrapped around its right side, its front paws are held next to each other at the end of strong, broad legs, and erect pointed ears crown the finely detailed face. Neatly pierced vertically through the head. The semi-precious translucent stone is of exceptionally fine quality, displaying a mottled deep amber hue with natural white and brown inclusions. Provenance: Collection of Belinda Ellison, acquired in Cairo or London in the 1940s, thence by descent. A private collection in North London, United Kingdom, acquired from the above. Belinda Ellison was a British collector with a longstanding interest in Egyptian antiquities and a longtime member of the Egypt Exploration Society. The Society was founded in London in 1882 as the Egypt Exploration Fund, largely through the efforts of the writer and traveler Amelia B. Edwards (1831-1892), following her journey through Egypt in 1873-1874. Its purpose was to support the exploration, documentation, and preservation of the monuments of ancient Egypt. Condition: Excellent condition with only minor wear. Weight: 2.7 g Dimensions: Height 2.4 cm Amulets were, and in many cultures still are, believed to protect the living and the dead from danger or to provide them with extraordinary power. Some amulets have the same power as the object whose shape they depict (a divinity, an animal a body part, a hieroglyph, or another symbol). Some are made of materials thought to have supernatural qualities, while some derive their power from their color. It is the instructions for use that make the amulets really effective. They must be employed in a certain way, at a certain moment, and by the right person, with the relevant spells being recited. Amulets served to protect the entice person, but were also laid on various parts of the mummy's body, and associated with the gods who had those body parts under their particular care. Jewelry and amulets are difficult to distinguish functionally. A bead can have a certain amuletic value and amulets almost always worked into jewelry. There are about 300 different types of Egyptian amulets known from all periods. Some of them remained popular for thousands of years. From about 1000 BC on, the production of amulets increased dramatically, particularly their use for the benefit of deceased persons. Dozens of specimens have thus been found on and inside mummies. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Zacke Vienna, 21 November 2025, lot 38 Price: EUR 4,680 or approx. EUR 4,800 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A carnelian ‘cat’ amulet, Bastet, Late Period to Ptolemaic Era Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of carving, and stone. Note the nearly identical size (2.2 cm). Due to length restriction on Drouot this entry is shortened. For full description please visit www.zacke.at.