Didier Attaix

Hello everybody, I received today a glass inlay bought on Catawiki through Christopher Martin in London (https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/81073749?utm_source=selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EMAIL-TRN-BUY-ALL-FUL-SHIPPING-NEW_ORDER_CONFIRM_DELIVERY_WHEN_DELIVERED&utm_content=&utm_term No problem with its authenticity, I am 100 % sure it is genuine. However, this inlay is highly unusual as the most important green piece of the inlay is pasted on another transparent glass. I never came across such an artefact. As far as I know, most inlays were cut from a bar, see below: Indeed, I also bought years ago from Chris Martin the right example above with both sides. This inlay is presently soaking in acetone, as it was extremely badly repaired. It came not surprisingly into 3 parts: the nose, the right face of the inlay, and the inlay itself. I am also 100% sure to restore it correctly. Therefore my question is as follows: is anybody in this wonderful group able to explain how such an artefact was made and if possible where? All the best, Didier

Hello everybody, I received yesterday a silver Seth amulet, which is very rare for two reasons: 1. Silver was imported in Ancient Egypt and there are few silver artefacts compared to gold ones. Gold was abundant in Nubia, now Sudan. 2. Seth amulets are very rare. I am aware of only 5: one in copper alloy in the British Museum (#EA22897), another wooden one also in the British Museum (see Fig. 79c in Carol Andrews, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, 1994) , one glazed in the Art Institute of Chicago (#X36), and one in gold in Le Louvre (#E7659). The 5th one, an inlay in red jasper, was since years in my own collection. As you know Seth was the devil because he killed his brother Osiris. Therefore, amulets of Seth were only worn, especially under the Ramesside Period (Dynasty 19), but never placed in mummy bandages (see Carol Andrews, p. 26). In any case I bought my silver Seth from Hussam Zurquieh, who I fully trust. Hussam has been accused of selling fakes. This was not deliberate but by ignorance: a) Hussam sold me a very sophisticated fake of possibly Mehet-Weret, an obscure goddess mostly known by a bed in the treasure of king Tut. I was dubious and asked Ralf Kotalla in Germany to perform a thermoluminescence test of this amulet. Verdict: recent glazed fake. I sent the Kotalla's report to Hussam, asking him for either a refund or an exchange for an amulet of similar prize. Hussam did not make any difficulty. He accepted an exchange. In addition, Hussam did not ask for a return of the fake, clearly indicating that he was intending to resell it. b) Hussam described my silver Seth amulet as a Khnum one in electrum. I gently cleaned and polished it. This is a hollow silver one, not in electrum. However, this is in my opinion, a masterpiece. The amulet is large (H 5.6 cm), well detailed, and in a rare material without any parallel to my knowledge. Apologies for this long message, Have a nice day, Didier

Hello, I just put for sale on eBay this very rare shabti https://www.ebay.fr/itm/126338831240 Its description is very informative. A close parallel within a group of three was sold years ago by Christie's for a fortune (about reactualized €9,000 each!). The Christie's description was wrong, as the Period and with irrelevant references. I submitted it for sale to Christie's with updated information. Christie's refused to consider it, telling me this artefact does not fit with our sales! Next I submitted it to Bonham's. They lost my submission... If I do not sell it through eBay, it will go to Drouot. All the best, Didier

Hello Donna, This is by far the first one, and I am French. However, the second one can presumably be cleaned with no risk with a 10% solution of EDTA tetrasodium salt. Thus, I would recommend to buy the cheapest one! Also with your post I am noticying that your interests are not only in antiquities. So do I, unfortunately. I am enclosing a very rare document, which is in blank to remove a Bastille prisoner. This document was signed by a secretary of king Louis XV (French documents with an original signature of the King are extremely rare). All the best, Didier

Hello everybody, I just put on hold this very rare silver amulet of Seth. As any collector of Egyptian antiquities knows silver was more valuable than gold in Ancient Egypt. Attached is my record with pictures. This one was not cheap, but considering the large size (H 5.8 cm) this was a very decent deal. All the best, Didier Silver_Seth.docx

Hello everybody, I wish you a very nice holiday season and the very best for new findings in 2024. I am attaching a rare hand coloured woodcut engraving of Braun & Hogenberg of Cairo dated 1585 (the only French version). Recently bought on Drouot, Paris, for nuts with a crazy depiction. I not only collect antiquities, but also maps or engravings of the 16-17th centuries. The sphinx and the Gizah pyramids are in the lower right corner. It is clear that Braun & Hogenberg never visited Cairo. These two Germans published many views of European cities, but very few elsewhere. The pyramids are too much steeper to fit with an accurate depiction. All the best, Didier

Hello everybody, Thanks Donna for your detailed description of the grotesque heads. I bought one in 2011 from Arte Primitivo in NYC. H 7.6, W 5.0, D 6.0 cm. All the best, Didier

Hello everybody, I am not Bill Gates and I never buy at rocket prices. Below is a beautiful Tanagra artefact in almost perfect condition, left thumb broken (H 21 cm), which I bought for nuts (€650) in a recent web sale. It was misdescribed. I very much enjoy poor descriptions. All the best, Didier

Hello everybody, I am presently selling many Egyptian amulets of my collection, which are duplicates when not triplicates. They are all described in the attachment and will be provided with detailed COA and origin. Their reserve price is indicated in every document. Please contact me if you are interested. Best regards, Didier Bes_amulet.doc Openwork_Wedjat_amulet.doc Thoth_amulet.doc Crocodile_amulet.doc Tiny_Pataikos.docx Scarab with the cartouche of Thutmose III.doc Hare_amulet.doc Bronze_Orant_or_Osiris_amulet.doc Bastet_or_Sekhmet amulet.doc Taweret_amulet.doc Red_crown_amulet.doc Small_Pataikos_amulet.doc Anubis_amulet.doc Uraeus_amulet.doc Blue_Nut_amulet.docx Button_stamp_seal_scaraboid_for_Thutmose_III.doc Bronze_Nefertem.docx Tiny_scarab.docx Faience_orant.doc Scarab_with_Bes.doc

Hi Antwerpen2306, Thank you for your message. 1. First I was quite surprized to get a single demand of downloads in this blog. I posted the very same advertisement on the ancientartefacts group (https://groups.io/g/AncientArtifacts and my slides were at least 30 times downloaded. 2. I perfectly know that the world of Egyptian amulets is not an easy one. Indeed, it took me 4 years part time (since I did retire) to complete the blog because I extensively browsed the most important websites worldwide (Le Louvre, the BM, the MET, the Brooklyn Museum, the Torino and Berlin ones, etc.) I repeatedly visited all these Museums, including the Cairo one, and much more. 3. I also know that Egyptian amulets varied extensively with Dynastic times. I also took care of that in my blog. I am enclosing an example with only god Bes. I am certainly not god, but f you can find better on line with colored pictures and references, please let me know. Best, Didier Bes_amulets.pptx

Hello everybody, I recently bought in Drouot Paris a beautiful mummy mask in excellent condition, Late Period, H 23 cm for €650 (see first picture) By contrast, in the very same sale an awful mask, sold for more, see second picture. I barely understand such stupid rationale. In addition, again in this sale, many copies of wooden servants of Middle Kingdom date, which were correctly advertised as copies, sold for a fortune : for example a group of servants with an estimation of €200-300 sold for €1600! Best, Didier

Hello everybody, I just finished my blog on Egyptian amulets. Unfortunately a friend who was ready to put the blog on line got a cancer and I am totally unable to do that. It does contain 3 Powerpoints : First one is a Collecting guide, which I am attaching. Second one is a Generalities section on materials, colors, help for datation, etc. I am attaching the docx index, which refers to the slide numbers. Third one is what I called 'The most complete amulets of Ancient Egypt' where I am describing more than 500 different types of amulets. I am attaching the index, a docx document, which also refers to the slide numbers. Overall there are about 2,000 amulets reproduced in colour, approximately scaled and classified for each type by Periods so that it is easy to see the evolution of styles throughout Dynastic times. I cannot attach the second and third Powerpoints as they are very heavy (respectively 128 Mo and 1.3 Go). In any case, for those who are interested, send me an email at didier.attaix@gmail.com so that I will send you WeTransfer links to download these Powerpoints. All the best, Didier Collecting guide.pptx Index_Complete.docx Index_Generalities.docx

Hello everybody, I just bought two rare Egyptian amulets: 1. During the Ptolemaic and Roman periods appeared Canopic jars (Osiris-hydreios) with the head of Osiris emerging from them. These solid jars were used by priests during processions to symbolically carry water from the Nile, Osiris being also an early fertility god. This one is in copper alloy. For parallels see Musée du Louvre #N 4382 and #AF10802 or University College London #LDUCE-UC60093. 2. Second one is a flat back glazed Late Period amulet representing a mongoose (Atum) on the back of another unidentified animal. There is a similar amulet in a private collection. Both amulets were misattributed. All the best, Didier

Hi everybody, Attached is enclosed a rare Theban triad amulet (Amun, Mut and Khonsu), which I put on hold today. This is a perfect example of what you can buy for a normal price, when you know exactly what you are buying. For comparison, triads of Isis, Nephthys and Horus the child, which are numerous, currently sell for USD 2,000 to 4,000 everywhere. in addition this triad is much better than several in Museum's collection, see attachment below. The value (personally I do not care) is for my son or any relative inheritant who is not aware of the value of any Egyptian amulet. All the best, Didier Theban_triad.docx

Hello everybody, So far I have not been very active on Numis Forums. For those who are interested in Egyptian antiquities, I am posting a few recent amulet acquisitions, which are very uncommon: 1. The first one is a rare fly silver amulet. The amulet is well detailed after cleaning (it was heavily corroded) and in perfect condition. It is flat back and pierced twice for suspension at the level of the head and at the upper part of the thorax. H 1.7, W 0.9, T 0.2 cm. Probably New Kingdom, Dynasty 18: Gold parallels with a close overall shape and also pierced twice for suspension have been for sale in Bond St. London on 12 January 2020, lot 109: https://www.artfoxlive.com/product/4720830.html#prettyPhoto Silver was more valuable than gold in Ancient Egypt, as it was imported from Asia Minor. I am not aware of any silver fly amulet elsewhere. 2. The second one is a Lapis Lazuli janiform Bes. H 2.5, W 0.7, D 1.0 cm. Period: Late Period as all janiform amulets. It was erroneously described as a New Kingdom one. I am also not aware of any Lapis lazuli Bes. 3. The last one is a copper alloy Syrian captive in a classical pose of submission, kneeling with arms bound in the back with a triple rope. The bronze has been gently cleaned and waxed. H 4.9, W 1.2, D 3.2 cm. Late Period. This one is in my opinion a masterpiece without any equivalent. I made a lot of research on that one. An expert comment on captives was made by Alexander Ancient Art, concerning a gaming piece recently sold see this link: I hope you will enjoy these 3 artefacts, as I do, see attached pictures below, All the best, Didier

Hello, A superb collection! I am collecting Egyptian antiquities since 43 years and recently displayed my collection in two custom made showcases (see pictures). There are also a few Greek, Roman, Phoenician or Carthaginian, and Near Eastern artefacts. They were mainly bought from Malters Gallery (now closed), Collector Antiquities (Bron Lipkin), Helios Gallery (Rolf von Kiaer/Samantha Neal), Ancient & Oriental (Christopher Martin), Ancient Relics (Guy Rothwell), Ancient Resource (Gabriel Vandervort), vcoins.com (Hassam Zurquieh) and French, British and American Sales Rooms. Best deals were made on eBay(!) with rare amulets and figurines, repeatedly identified and authenticated by curators of the British Museum. I specialized in Egyptian amulets and will soon open a blog on this topic. It will include detailed pictures of many amulets of my collection. All the best, Didier