Romano-Egyptian Bronze bust of Serapis, 12, 8 cm -Ex Gustave Mustaki Collection, 1950s-

This freestanding bronze casting depicts a draped bust of Serapis emerging from a chalice of acanthus leaves, a visual device that emphasizes his generative nature. The work is notable for its deep and expressive modeling, featuring a forked beard with pronounced curls and a mustache with long sideburns that lend the face a strong sense of chiaroscuro.

The hair follows the Alexandrian style, with the characteristic five locks (anastolé) falling rhythmically across the forehead. A conical modius sits atop the head, decorated with incisions depicting olive branches. The god wears a chiton whose V-shaped folds lend a classical symmetry to the ensemble.

This exceptional piece comes from the renowned Mustaki Collection, assembled in the city of Alexandria during the first half of the 20th century. Gustave Mustaki, a Greek citizen living in the vibrant Alexandria of the early 20th century, succeeded in building one of the most significant private collections of antiquities of his time, focusing primarily on pieces from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Between 1947 and 1949, Mustaki began the legal proceedings to transfer his collection to the United Kingdom, a process that culminated in the granting of an official license by the Egyptian government; although the state retained the objects of greatest national significance, it authorized the export of numerous crates containing amulets, scarabs, and statuettes. This transfer finally took place in May 1953, when shipping records confirmed the collection’s arrival in London, where it was initially held in storage at Harrods before being handed over to his daughter, Elsa MacLellan.

After arriving on British soil, the collection began to be dispersed through Elsa MacLellan, who facilitated the sale of the pieces through renowned galleries, with Charles Ede Ltd. playing a particularly prominent role. The traceability and historical value of these objects were reinforced by expert cataloging led by Carol Andrews, former curator of the Egyptian Department at the British Museum, which has ensured their authenticity in the art market.

Over the decades, and through the mediation of figures and entities such as Folio Fine Art Ltd. and Julia Schottlander of Tetragon, Mustaki’s pieces have found their way into the collections of world-renowned institutions, including the Getty Museum, the British Museum itself, and the Egyptian National Museum. Following MacLellan’s death, the remaining pieces passed to his son, thus continuing the legacy of a collection that was actively traded in London well into the 21st century.

*Green patina with azurites under the chin

Provenance: Gustave Mustaki, Alexandria, Egypt; exported from Egypt to the UK under licence, 1950 / Elsa MacLellan, Portsmouth, UK; by descent from previous private collection, London, UK / Charles Ede Gallery, London, 2019

Statement seen by Catawiki. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days.

According to Spanish legislation, items sent outside the European Union are subject to export taxes and will be added to the invoice, at the buyer's expense.

These export fees are fixed on the final auction price and the tax rate is not applied directly on the total value of the item to be exported, but rather the different percentages by sections are applied to it:

- Up to 6,000 euros: 5%.
- From 6.001 to 60.000 euros: 10%.

Due to Switzerland customs regulations about antiques over 100 years old, this lot cannot be sold to customers residing in Switzerland