A small turquoise glazed faience amulet depicting the dwarf god Bes. The amulet is similarly modelled both sides and is depicted wearing a feathered crown, standing on a slender rectangular base; with piercing for suspension through the base of the headdress. Supplied with a modern acrylic display base.
 
Ancient Egyptian, Late Dynastic-Ptolemaic period: Circa 6th-1st century B.C.
 
Condition: Very Fine; complete and intact; a few light accretions.
Height 24 mms (0.95 ins).
 
Provenance: Ex London gallery; previously in a 1930's Home counties UK collection.
 
Reference: See Carol Andrews' Amulets of Ancient Egypt (London 1994) no. 37d for several examples of the type.
 
Although he had no temples, Bes enjoyed enormous popularity in Egypt and beyond. His image decorated countless decorative art objects with which the body routinely came into contact, such as beds and headrests. The Bes amulet was very popular with women in Egyptian times, worn as an amulet of good luck to keep them safe in childbirth.
 
See our blog post on Egyptian amulets