Code: 2456
Description: A carnelian amuletic bead depicting Bes, a protector of households, mothers and children, shown as a bandy-legged dwarf with hands clasping belly, with engraved facial details. Bead is pierced longitudinally for suspension. Small chips at each end and a larger chip affecting the right arm, otherwise condition good.
Size: 23 mm/0.9 in. in length
Culture: Egyptian
Date: New Kingdom, c. 1550-1070 B.C.
Provenance: From the collection of Julian Bird (1959-2014).
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, but we do not have his notes for this particular item.
