New Kingdom, Ramesside Period, 19th-20th Dynasty, 1292-1069 BC. A green schist heart amulet, Ib, with jar-shaped body, small lug handles to the side, with suspension ring to the top; engraved to one side with the name of the dead; on the reverse the standing figure of a heron, known as the benu bird; Egyptologist Peter Clayton writes: 'The Heart Scarab is really splendid, although without Chapter 30B as most heart scarabs have on the underside. The benu bird on it is quite rare'. 30 grams, 49mm (2"). From the Meyer family collection, France; acquired by the current owner's father in 1991 from Thierry Lux, who inherited them from his father Joseph Claer; accompanied by a copy of a Joseph Claer biography, the current collection notes, and the original French passport number 147881, dated 9 August 2013. Joseph Claer (born 9/5/1859) lived and worked in Dornach, Switzerland, in the family painting and decorating business. Claer was responsible for the decoration of many of the churches of the upper Rhine area badly damaged during World War I. He was a prolific collector of antiquities and curiosities from around the world and created an important collection which remained largely intact after his death in 1929, with only a small number ending up in museums. This collection consists mainly of wooden and metal statuettes, approximately two hundred stained glass windows, numerous paintings, sketches, engravings, antique fireplaces and furniture. For the ancient Egyptians, the heart, Ib, was the source of intelligence, feelings and actions. A person's memory was also housed in the heart and so at the judgement ceremony, known as the Weighing of the Heart, which took place in the Halls of Amduat before Osiris, the heart was able to speak on behalf of the deceased, accounting to Osiris for a lifetime of deeds. Therefore, heart amulets were only used on the mummy to protect the owner's organ and to ensure that his heart gave a positive response at judgement. The Bennu bird was an important solar creature, associated by the Greeks with the phoenix. It was believed that the bird flew over the waters of chaos at the beginning of time and came to rest on a rock from which its cry broke the primeval silence, determining what was and what was not to be in the unfolding creation. Like the sun god, the Bennu's own birth is attributed to self generation. A mythological papyri of the Twenty-First Dynasty provides a vignette of a heart-amulet and scarab beetle near to which stand the Benu, which is described as the one who came into being by himself. It was believed to constantly rise renewed just like the sun, and was called the lord of jubilees. The Bennu Bird was said to appear each morning under the form of the rising sun, and was supposed to shine upon the world from the top of the famous Persea tree in Heliopolis wherein he renewed himself. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.]

Very fine condition. Very rare.