Lot 6
Egypt, Coptic, ca. 6th to 9th century CE. A rare window into the daily concerns of Egypt's Christian communities, this Coptic letter fragment preserves four lines of boldly inked Sahidic script, with a faint trace of a fifth at the top. Likely part of a longer personal letter, the text includes an epistolary expression near the end - a formula akin to "please" - which hints at the fragment's interpersonal nature. The surviving lines reference a date early in the month of Paremhotep and mention a petition made "of God on behalf of" an individual named Mena. Another name, Phoibammon, appears at the beginning of the fourth line. These may be two male correspondents in a private exchange. Size of fragment: 4.6" L x 1.3" W (11.7 cm x 3.3 cm); of frame: 8.25" L x 6" W (21 cm x 15.2 cm)
Framed for preservation and display, this intimate scrap bridges personal devotion and the daily rhythms of Coptic Christian life in Byzantine or early Islamic Egypt. Its legible, confident hand and the character of the text suggest a literate layman or monk engaged in correspondence that blended the personal with the spiritual.
Provenance: private Boca Raton, Florida, USA collection acquired from Baidun Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel, acquired in April 2015; ex-private collection of Bruno Wertz, Germany, acquired in the 1960s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
#194878
- Condition: Mounted behind glass in a custom frame; has not been examined outside of glass. Fragment with some nicks, tears, chips, and losses as shown. Good remaining pigment and patina to paper. Suspension hook on verso of frame for display.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |