An Egyptian blue faience amulet in the shape of a cartouche. The name of a pharaoh is incised within the cartouche however this is no longer eligible due to deterioration consistent with age. In ancient Egypt, a cartouche is an oval frame with a line at one end, usually enclosing a royal name. The cartouche is a stylised representation of the sun's rays and is thought to symbolise the power of the pharaoh over all that is shone upon by the sunlight. Amulets often took the form of a cartouche displaying the name of a king and are used for protective purposes or as grave goods. However not all the royal names indicated in a cartouche are contemporaneous. Some kings were held in particularly high regard, and thus their name appears on amulets hundreds of years after their reign. Measurements: L 1.5cm x W 0.9cm Provenance: Ex UK Collection 1920s-1940s.