Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom Amulet - 18 mm

Heart Amulet (ib) with Royal Name

Civilization: Ancient Egypt
Period: New Kingdom – 18th Dynasty
Reign: Thutmose III (ca. 1479–1425 BC)
Material: Basalt
Dimensions: 18 × 16 × 8 mm

Description

Rare heart amulet (ib) carved in basalt, executed with exceptionally fine craftsmanship and characterized by an extremely precise engraving. The surfaces are carefully polished, and the incision is carried out with remarkable technical control, despite the very small size of the object.

The base bears the name of Pharaoh Thutmose III, clearly legible and stylistically consistent with official New Kingdom productions. The inscription was carved on a carefully prepared surface, providing clear evidence of a highly specialized and high-quality workshop.
In ancient Egyptian religious belief, the heart (ib) was regarded as the seat of conscience and morality and played a central role in the Weighing of the Heart during the judgment in the Afterlife. Amulets of this type served to protect the heart of the deceased and ensure its integrity in the eternal realm.
A particularly rare example due to:

the combination of a heart amulet and a royal name,

the use of basalt, a hard and technically demanding material,

the exceptionally high quality of the miniature carving.

Heart amulets bearing royal inscriptions are uncommon and are generally associated with individuals of high status, such as court officials or members of the priestly elite.

Condition

Excellent condition. Uniform ancient patina; inscription sharp and fully legible. No restorations or modern interventions visible.

Provenance

From a European private collection, acquired on the antiquities market prior to the introduction of modern regulations governing the trade of archaeological material

A museum-quality object of great historical, religious, and collectible interest, representative of the refined lapidary production of the 18th Dynasty and the royal ideology of the New Kingdom.