Description: A good-sized bright turquoise blue faience amulet of Thoth, striding forwards, his arms by his sides, with back pillar pierced for suspension below the shoulder. Depicted as a man with the head of an ibis, wearing the tripartite wig and short kilt. The beak repaired and weathered lighter in colour, but otherwise a nice example with attractive colour.
Size: 50 mm/2 ins. high
Culture: Egyptian
Date: Late Period, c. 600 B.C.
Provenance: From the collection of Julian Bird (1959-2014) and acquired from Timeline Auctions, London, in December 2011, and previously in a UK private collection formed in the 1950s.
Background: Julian Bird was a passionate collector of Egyptian antiquities, who built up a fine and extensive collection from the 1970s onwards. He sourced his items mainly from the UK market, from specialist dealers, fairs, markets and auctioneers. He was a model collector, carefully documenting his collection, and his notes on this particular item will be supplied to the buyer.
