Code: 2572
Description: A pale blue faience amulet of Bes, the protector of households, mothers and children, depicted naked and wearing a plumed headdress, with hands clasping belly, a suspension loop on the reverse at the top of the head. A fine undamaged example.
Size: 40 mm/1.6 ins. high
Culture: Egyptian
Date: Late Period, c. 600-300 B.C.
Provenance: From the collection of Julian Bird (1959-2014) and acquired from Helios Gallery, Kingsdown, Wiltshire, and originally collected in the early 20th Century.
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, although we do not have his notes on this particular item.
