An Egyptian Porphyritic Diorite Jar, Predynastic Period (Nagada II)/1st Dynasty, circa 3500-2900 B.C.

Auction Closed

December 6, 03:36 PM GMT

Estimate

25,000 - 35,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property from the Collection of Peter Sharrer

An Egyptian Porphyritic Diorite Jar

Predynastic Period (Nagada II)/1st Dynasty, circa 3500-2900 B.C.

of ovoid form with finely contoured foot, tubular handles, and fragmentary everted rim.

Height 15 cm.

Royall Tyler (1884-1953), Paris

William Royall Tyler (1910-2003), Director of Dumbarton Oaks, 1967-1977

private collection, New England, by descent from the above (Sotheby’s, New York, December 8th, 2011, no. 38, illus.)

acquired by the present owner at the above sale

Published

“Yes, wonderful things”. Egyptian Art from 3000-100 B.C., Oliver Forge and Brendan Lynch, in collaboration with Claire Brown Art, London, 2022, cat. no. 9, illus.

For an example very close in form compare W.M. Flinders Petrie and J.F. Quibell, Naqada and Ballas, 1895, London, 1896, pl. 7, 43.

Royall Tyler was an American art historian and diplomat who spent most of his life in Europe, based in Paris. A specialist in Byzantine art, he advised Mildred and Robert Bliss on a number of acquisitions for their collection at Dumbarton Oaks. In the 1920s and 30s he assembled his own collection of Egyptian, Persian and Byzantine art, first visiting Egypt in 1927. It is probable that most of his objects were acquired from Dikran Kelekian, Joseph Brummer, and Kalebjian Freres.