Various Properties (Lots 118-141)
Lot 134*
An Egyptian bronze amulet of the harpoon of Horus
23 June – 7 July 2025, 12:00 BST
Online, London, New Bond StreetSold for £512 inc. premium
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An Egyptian bronze amulet of the harpoon of Horus
Ptolemaic Period, circa 332-30 B.C.
8cm high
8cm high
Footnotes
Provenance:
Horst and Luise Foehr Collection, Cairo and Bonn.
Resandro collection, Europe, acquired prior to 1985 (R-698 (HB 31)).
Published:
S. Schoske and D. Wildung, Entdeckungen, Ägyptische Kunst in Süddeutschland, Munich, 1985, pp.132-133, no.114.
S. Schoske and D. Wildung, Gott und Götter im Alten Ägypten, 1992, Mainz am Rhein, 1992, p.134, no.93.
I. Grimm-Stadelmann (ed.), Aesthetic Glimpses, Masterpieces of Ancient Egyptian Art, The Resandro Collection, Munich, 2012, p.216, no. R-698.
Exhibited:
Munich, Staatliche Sammlung Ägypischer Kunst, Entdeckungen, Ägyptische Kunst in Süddeutschland, 30 August-6 October 1985.
Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung; Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin; Munich, Staatliche Sammlung Ägyptischer Kunst Munchen; Hamburg, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, Gott und Götter im Alten Ägypten, 1992-1993.
The harpoon is in the form of a Horus falcon head atop a long conical shaft, the bifurcated end of which is flanked by two uraei. Horus is depicted wearing a three-part wig topped with an uraeus, on which rests the spread wings of a falcon. These Horus harpoons represent the weapon carried by Horus of Edfu when in combat with his enemy, Seth in the form of hippopotamus; 'possession of one would grant the deceased the victory of Horus the Harpooner over the arch embodiment of evil' (C. Andrews, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, p.79-80, pl. 80). For more examples of the type, see W.M. Flinders Petrie, Amulets, reprint 1972, pl.XLI, no.243 a-f.