A RARE TURQUOISE GLAZED FAIENCE RING WITH AEGIS OF NEPHTHYS, THIRD INTERMEDIATE PERIOD, DYNASTY XXII
Lot 46 - ANT1125

Published: Carol A.R. Andrews and Jacobus van Dijk, Objects for Eternity: Egyptian Antiquities from the W. Arnold Meijer Collection, Mainz, 2006, p. 111, no. 2.24.

Exhibited: Allard Pierson Museum (APM), Archaeological Museum of the University of Amsterdam, 17 November 2006-25 March 2007.

Egypt, circa 946-735 BC. The shank of this ring is formed of three stems of lotus flowers that terminate in one open lotus flower and two buds in openwork which support the bezel that is formed of an elaborate menat counterpoise supporting an aegis of Nephthys. The face of the deity is modeled with a tripartite wig surmounted by her distinctively shaped crown of the hieroglyph of her name.

Provenance: The collection of E. Leu, Zurich, assembled between circa 1950-1960. Thereafter with Bigler Fine Arts, Zurich, Switzerland. The collection of W. Arnold Meijer, Netherlands, acquired from the above on 11 November 2004. The interior of the shank with an old inventory label, inscribed ‘264’. A copy of the invoice from Bigler Fine Arts, Zurich, Switzerland, dated 11 November 2004, accompanies this lot.
Condition: Very good condition with wear and manufacturing irregularities. Expected minor losses and wear to glaze. Minute old repairs to two sections of the hoop.

Weight: 3.3 g
Dimensions: Diameter 2.4 cm

Aegis, the Greek word for “shield", is used to describe representations of a broad ornamental necklace, shaped as a collar and surmounted with the head of a deity. Usually made of metal, the aegis originally formed part of a bead necklace and it was carried on the chest at ceremonies. Related to the aegis is the menat counterpoise with its characteristic upside-down keyhole shape. Depictions exist where it is worn at the back, apparently to compensate for the weight of a necklace comprising numerous strands of small beads. However, the purpose of the menat ensemble was not just to serve as jewelry. During all periods of Egyptian history, the menat was an important ritual object in temple ceremonies. Priestesses held it in the hand and when shaken its bead strings acted as a musical instrument producing a swishing sound, complementing the rhythm of the sistrum rattle. The aegis and menat counterpoise could also be combined into a single form and many smaller examples, made from metal or faience, have survived. These probably were not intended to serve as a ritual object but have an amuletic meaning. Ancient Egyptian art often makes use of truncated forms where a single part substitutes for the entire object, so the absence of bead strings should in no way diminish the symbolism and amuletic charge.

Literature comparison:
Nephthys, identified by the hieroglyph for her name on her head, is seldom found on these rings: only one other example is known, see a closely related turquoise faience ring with the aegis of Nephthys, Third Intermediate, Dynasty XXII, dated 1069-715 BC, 2.7 cm wide, in the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession number 1916.659.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 11 December 2014, lot 234
Price: USD 7,500 or approx. EUR 8,800 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An Egyptian faience finger ring, Third Intermediate period, 22^nd dynasty, 945-712 BC
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and similar glaze.