660 - Egyptian Glass Eye Inlays. Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C. Almond-shaped with large black irises and white sclerae. 4.12 grams total, 27-29 mm (1 - 1 1/8 in.). [2, No Reserve]

Egyptian Glass Eye Inlays. Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C. Almond-shaped with large black irises and white sclerae. 4.12 grams total, 27-29 mm (1 - 1 1/8 in.). [2, No Reserve] Acquired on the UK art market, 1977-1979. Private collection, London. Egyptian coffin eye inlays were both decorative and symbolic, designed to make the coffin appear more lifelike and to assist the deceased in the afterlife. Typically, they featured a white sclera (glass, travertine, alabaster, or quartz), a dark iris (glass or, more often, obsidian), and sometimes red paint at the inner corner. The eyes were often set in bronze or copper frames, occasionally with faience or bronze eyebrows. TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists. See our website for more information.