Ancient Egyptian Bi-Coloured Faience Amulet of Taweret - Late Dynastic Period, c. 730-332 BC - Ex Albert Newall Collection

A unique bi-coloured faience amulet depicting taweret, dating to the late dynastic period of Ancient Egypt, c. 730-332 BC, from the collection of artist Albert Newall (1920-1989). 

The goddess is masterfully rendered in her classical composite form, with the head of a hippopotamus, a heavily distended pregnant human belly, and the paws of a lion resting closely at her sides. A suspension loop is neatly integrated between her shoulder blades along the back-pillar, designed for suspension as a protective talisman.

The specimen is highly unusual for its dramatic bi-coloured glaze distribution. The head, snout, and neck feature a vibrant, vitrified green-blue copper glaze, which transitions along the shoulders into a matte, earthy purple-brown manganese hue across the main torso, swollen abdomen, and lower limbs. The moulding is detailed and robust, emphasising the fierce profile of the domestic guardian goddess. 
In Egyptian faience, these colour variations were often the result of deliberate firing techniques or localised chemical reactions in the kiln involving copper (for blues/greens) and manganese or iron (for purples/browns).  

The amulet is mounted on a custom wooden base and has an accompanying certificate from Helios Gallery, London (see image 7).

Historical context: 

Taweret ("The Great One") was one of Ancient Egypt's most popular domestic deities, invoked primarily to shield expectant mothers, newborns, and infants from malevolent forces and disease. Her fierce, monstrous composite form was intended to actively terrify demons and ward off evil spirits during the vulnerability of childbirth.

Specimen Details:    

Specimen: Purple-Green Bi-coloured Faience Amulet of Taweret, mounted on vintage wooden base. 

Origin: Egypt, North Africa 

Period: Late Dynastic Period, c. 730-332 BC

Composition: Faience (glazed composition)

Technique: Mould-made

Size: Amulet: 40mm Tall, Overall: 50mm inc. wooden base. Base: 10mm x 30mm x 22mm 

Condition: Fine condition. The amulet displays an unusual bi-coloured appearance, with green-blue glaze to the head and neck, with a purple-brown colouring across the body, arms and legs. Complete, mounted on a vintage wooden display base.

Provenance:    
Ex. collection of the artist Albert Newall (1920-1989) UK and South Africa; acquired in South Africa during the 1950's-1960's. Imported to the UK in the 1970's.    
Thence by descent to Peter Newall, Blandford Forum, Dorset, UK (d. 2018).

Ex Helios Gallery, London, 2026. ( Certificate of authenticity from Helios Gallery included) 

Subsequently acquired from a private collector based in Bristol, England, 2026. 

More information about Albert Newall:   
Albert Newall (1920–1989) was a British-born painter, photographer, and sculptor who became a notable figure in South African modernism and geometric abstraction. He is best known for his meticulously planned abstract paintings that used mathematical and scientific principles to construct dynamic compositions.