Lot 129a, Auction 4/3/2026: Egyptian Greywacke Heart Amulet, Ex-Mitry

$520.00

In stock

Egypt, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, ca. 1540 to 1070 BCE. A compact and finely carved greywacke heart amulet of elegant, stylized form, its smooth ovoid body flanked by subtle wing-like projections that suggest protection and divine association. The dense, dark grey stone is carefully polished, emphasizing both the materials natural luster and the refined workmanship, while the abbreviated wings extend outward with quiet symmetry, lending the piece a sense of balance and purpose. At the top, a small platform supports a pierced bale, allowing the amulet to be suspended or worn, likely close to the body. Such heart amulets held profound significance in ancient Egyptian belief, where the ib, or heart, was understood as the seat of intellect, memory, and moral conscience. In funerary contexts, the heart was essential in the weighing of the soul before Osiris, and amulets of this type served to safeguard it, ensuring favorable judgment in the afterlife. Size: 1″ L x 0.6″ W (2.5 cm x 1.5 cm)

Condition: Light surface wear, but, otherwise, intact, excellent, and wearable.

Provenance: private Jones collection, Boulder, Colorado, USA; ex-Philip Mitry collection brought into the US in the 1950’s. Mitry was a noted antiquarian in Cairo in the 1940’s and early 1950’s before emigrating to the US.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all purchases.

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