19th Dynasty, 1197-1191 BC. A blue-green glaze composition scaraboid with cartouche to the underside of Siptah I, penultimate ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty. Merenptah Siptah was ten or eleven years old when he came to the throne. A medical investigation of his mummy showed that he was only about 16 years old at death, having ruled for around 6 years. He was 1.6 metres tall and had probably suffered from polio, having a severely deformed left foot. Siptah was buried in the Valley of the Kings (tomb KV47), but his mummy was not recovered from there. It was discovered in 1898 in a mummy cache within the tomb of Amenhotep II. 3.52 grams, 20mm (3/4"). Private collection, London, UK; acquired Christies 2010, Lot 326; formerly in an old English collection formed in the mid-20th century. [No Reserve]

Fine condition, some accretion.