AN EGYPTIAN POLYCHROME PAINTED BOOK OF THE DEAD PAPYRUS SCROLL FOR PA-DI-AMEN-NEB-NEST-TAWI
Lot 100

AN EGYPTIAN POLYCHROME PAINTED BOOK OF THE DEAD PAPYRUS SCROLL FOR PA-DI-AMEN-NEB-NEST-TAWI

PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, LATE 4TH-EARLY 3RD CENTURY B.C.

Closed15 December 2016

Price Realised

GBP 81,250

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AN EGYPTIAN POLYCHROME PAINTED BOOK OF THE DEAD PAPYRUS SCROLL FOR PA-DI-AMEN-NEB-NEST-TAWI
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, LATE 4TH-EARLY 3RD CENTURY B.C.
Bearing hieroglyphic text and vignettes from the Book of the Dead for Chapters 1-7, 9-13, 15-18, 81, 77, 86-88, 26, 54, 59, 89 and 148, with added colours green, red, white and yellow, framed
159 in. (404 cm.) long incl. frame

Almost certainly acquired by either William James (1854-1912) or his brother Frank James (1851-1890), who both travelled extensively in Egypt and the rest of Africa (recorded on an 1912 inventory) and by descent to Edward James (1907-1984) in London and later at Monkton House; subsequently moved to West Dean House circa 1986 (recorded there in 1987).

Specialist note

The Book of the Dead was a long funerary papyrus including a large number of religious texts and spells to ensure the protection of the deceased as they travelled through the underworld towards the Afterlife. The present lot comprises, in order:
Chapter 1-7: Spell for going forth by day and back, to be said on the day of the burial, with accompanying vignettes showing the mummy arriving at the tomb.
Chapter 9-13: Spell for entering and for leaving for Underworld, with accompanying vignettes.
Chapter 15: Prayer for Re.
Chapter 16: Full height vignette of the Adoration of the sun god Re.
Chapter 17: Spell for transformation and glorification of the deceased, with accompanying vignettes.
Chapter 18: Spell for the vindication of the deceased.
Chapter 81: Spell for assuming the shape of a lotus.
Chapter 77: Spell for becoming a falcon of gold.
Chapter 88: Spell for assuming the form of a crocodile.
Chapter 87: Spell for assuming the Sa-ta snake.
Chapter 86: Spell for assuming the form of a swallow.
Chapter 26: Vignette for the spell of returning a man's heart in the afterlife.
Chapter 54: Spell for giving breath back to the deceased, with accompanying vignette of the deceased with a sail.
Chapter 59: Spell for having water in the afterlife.
Chapter 89: Spell for causing a man's Ba to be returned to his corpse, with accompanying vignette of the mummy.
Chapter 148: Spell for making provision for a spirit in the realm of the dead, with accompanying fragmentary vignette below.