This vibrant ancient Egyptian cartonnage, known as a usekh or wesekh collar and formed of layers of papyrus or linen, would have adorned a mummified body.
Dating from around the Late period (664-332BC), it features a winged scarab beetle, representing the god Khepri (a manifestation of the sun-god Ra) and a network of semi-circular rows depicting various shapes, including lotus flowers, circular rosettes and petal-shaped leaves.
Restored and repaired from fragments, the piece is priced at £2250 from London antiquities dealership Ancient Art.
A stalwart of the sales calendar at Bonhams, the annual Gentleman’s Library sale encompasses a vast array of traditional art and antiques with the proviso they look at home in a gentleman’s library.
The next instalment takes place on February 14 in Knightsbridge and will include this George III silver candelabrum. Made by William Pitts, London 1800, the 17in (44cm) high piece has three swirling branches and is centred with an eagle on a basket of fruit and flowers.
Estimate £3000-4000.
Bearing a cypher similar to that used by Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) of Germany, this early 20th century German gold cigarette case is estimated at £3000-5000 at Special Auction Services on February 14 in Newbury, Berkshire.
Made by Johann Wagner & Sohn of Berlin, the 3ft 1in x 2ft 9in (95 x 85cm) case has a cabochon sapphire button clasp and a cypher set with rose cut diamonds to the W and coronet and emeralds to the Is.
specialauctionservices.com or see this item on thesaleroom.com
This desk is where Lord Jeffrey (1773-1850) is believed to have penned the influential Edinburgh Review while editor from 1803-29.
Jeffrey acquired the table around the time of his marriage to his first wife Catherine Wilson in 1801 and kept it until his death in 1850. It was left to John Hunter (1801-69), Wilson’s nephew, and has since passed by family descent. The Canterbury Auction Galleries will offer the desk on February 8 in Kent, estimated at £2500-3500.
Measuring 4ft 9in x 2ft 5in (1.44m x 74cm) high, it is in the Louis XV design and was made in the late 18th-early 19th century from French kingwood and gilt-brass mounts.
thecanterburyauctiongalleries.com or see this item on thesaleroom.com
