Egyptian Scarabs And Seal Amulets From The Cracow Collections

Complete catalogue of Egyptian scarabs, scaraboids and other seal amulets (two hundred objects) from the Cracow museums. Most important items were partly published before by the same author some years ago (1985 and 1989) but now all of them are compared with new material unaccessible before and classified according to new standards in this field. For each object the author gives details not only about material, dimensions and state of preservation, but first of all the actually used typology is introduced and a description of the base is given. Iconographical analyse of the base's decoration follows (with parallels quoted), as well as the translation of the possible text, as in the case of objects with maxims and wishes. All bases, sides and backs are photographed, every inscribed or decorated base is additionally drawn. The material is classified by items such as royal and private names, phrases, representations of animals, hieroglyphic signs and other symbols. Such groups as heart scarabs, beetles with naturalistic lower part, flat winged scarabs from mummy nets are also included.

The Egyptian Collection at Norwich Castle Museum represents the first full publication of this important collection which contains several outstanding objects. Part 1 begins with an outline of the acquisition history of the Egyptian collection and its display within Norwich Castle in 1894, when it was converted from a prison to a museum. The collection was largely acquired between the nineteenth and first part of the twentieth centuries. Its most prominent donor was Flaxman Spurrell, whose varied collection of flints, faience beads and necklaces as well as Late Antique cloths was obtained from Sir Flinders Petrie. Also prominent was the Norwich-based Colman family, most notable for its manufacture of mustard, whose collection was purchased in Egypt during the late-C19. Also included in this part are essays on several of the museum’s outstanding items – Ipu’s shroud, a rare early 18th Dynasty example with fragments also held in Cairo; the 22nd Dynasty finely decorated and well-preserved cartonnage and wooden lid of the priest, Ankh-hor; and the exceptional model granary of Nile clay painted with lively scenes, one showing the owner, Intef, playing senet. Part 2 is a detailed catalogue of the complete collection. It is organised into sections with objects grouped together mainly according to type – stelae, shabtis, scarabs, jewellery, amulets, vessels, flints, lamps, inscribed Book of the Dead fragments, metal figurines, and Late Antique cloths; and also according to function – such as cosmetics& grooming, and architectural & furniture elements. The inscribed materials have all been translated and individual entries give examples or parallels. Seventy colour plates illustrate each object.

First Published in 2005. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

First published in 2005. The seals collected by Captain Timins of Cairo are here catalogued, reproduced and described by Professor Newbery to make an attractive and useful book. The original collector chose on the basis of historic, as well as artistic merit, to form his choice. The provenance of the seals is mostly from the Eastern Delta and Upper Egypt.