A rare Egyptian cosmetic vessel known as The Guennol Grasshopper is set to be auctioned this month in London, offering collectors and historians a glimpse into the refined artistry of Egypt’s New Kingdom period.
Dated from the late 18th Dynasty (circa 1350–1340 BC), the piece stands out for both its craftsmanship and its remarkable provenance.
The object, Lot 462 in Apollo Art Auctions’ forthcoming sale Fine Ancient Art & Antiquities – The Prince Collection, will go under the hammer on July 27th, 2025. The piece carries an estimate of £300,000 to £500,000 with a starting bid of £100,000. Beyond its rarity and craftsmanship, the grasshopper could bare links to Late 18th Dynasty royalty.
The cosmetic container, measuring 88 millimetres in length and weighing just under 20 grams, is an elegant rendering of a grasshopper, carved in painted ivory with delicate wooden inlays forming the lower wings. Its black and blue inlaid eyes lend it lifelikeness while its checkerboard-patterned upper wings pivot outward to reveal a small interior cavity presumably used to store kohl or perfume, both essential accoutrements in New Kingdom elite life.
What further establishes this piece is its long and well-documented journey through the 20th century. Following Howard Carter’s death in 1939, the renowned archaeologist whose work helped shape modern understanding of ancient Egypt, the vessel passed into the hands of major 20th-century collectors including New York’s Joseph Brummer and the fabled Guennol Collection before being acquired by the Merrin Gallery in 2007 accompanied by its original invoice. The object also boasts a robust exhibition history, having appeared at the Brooklyn Museum from 1948 to 2002 and at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1969. First published in the Brooklyn Museum Bulletin (1948), the vessel has since been cited in several important academic references including Cyril Aldred’s New Kingdom Art in Ancient Egypt (1951) and A History of Technology (1954) by Singer et al.
This grasshopper vessel is more than an ancient cosmetic container - it is a finely preserved fragment of Egyptian culture. For those captivated by Ancient Egypt, it offers a rare chance to acquire a piece with both beauty and historical intrigue.
Apollo Art Auctions will present this lot on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at 1 PM BST (live & online bidding) Lot: 462 Egyptian Ivory and Wood Cosmetic Vessel in the Form of a Grasshopper. Estimate: £300,000–£500,000 (Starting bid £100,000)