THREE OF THE BEST: WOODEN LOTS

Wood is a comparatively rare material in Ancient Egypt but, due to the airless conditions inside the tombs, it often lasts well. As such, it can fetch impressive sums when it comes up for auction…

1 A RED- PAINTED WOODEN MODEL OF A BOAT

from the Middle Kingdom (c2133–1797BC), over a metre long, manned by a crew of 12 and complete with linen sail, sold at Bonhams New Bond Street in November 2016 for £161,000.

2 THIS POLYCHROME WOOD INNER

SARCOPHAGUS of Princess Sopdet- em-haawt, from the late 8th century BC, fetched $1,025,000 at Sotheby’s New York in December 2013.

3 AN ENIGMATIC WOODEN MUMMY

MASK was sold by Sotheby’s, again in New York, for $1,450,000 in December 2015. Besides its own exquisite beauty, the item’s more recent provenance added a little extra glamour – it was once owned by the cosmetics queen Helena Rubinstein.