Ancient Egyptian grasshopper takes six-figure sum at auctionAncient Egyptian grasshopper takes six-figure sum at auction
- Apollo Auctions
- Jul 29
- 1 min read
ATG - Roland Arkell - 28th July 2025
An ancient Egyptian cosmetic vessel made in the form of a grasshopper or cicada sold for £340,000 at Apollo Art Auctions in London on July 27.
With an ownership history that begins with the famed Egyptologist Howard Carter and ends with the super-collector Sheikh Saud Al-Thani, the piece stands out for its provenance and its exquisite New Kingdom period craftsmanship. However, its sale was controversial as some experts believe that it is among the ‘stray’ objects from the tomb of the 18th Dynasty boy king Tutankhamun.
Fashioned more than three millennia ago in various hardwoods and ivory, the so-called Guennol Grasshopper is cleverly articulated with the upper wings opening to reveal a cavity to store perfume or cosmetics.
It takes its name from the famed holdings formed in the post-war years by steel heir Alastair Bradley Martin (1917-2010) and his wife Edith Park Martin. They named their collection after the Welsh word for a martin (gwennol) in memory of their honeymoon in Wales...