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Lot Essay
Cyril Aldred (1914-1991) was a British Egyptologist celebrated for his contributions to ancient Egyptian art and history. In 1937 he joined the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh as an assistant keeper, a position he held for the rest of his life.
During World War II, he served in the RAF, and when he returned to Edinburgh in 1946, he focused exclusively on Egyptology. His book "Old Kingdom Art in Ancient Egypt" was published in 1949, followed by volumes on the Middle and New Kingdoms respectively in 1950 and 1952. In 1955 he worked as an associate curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, under William C. Hayes. Despite the potential for becoming Hayes' successor, Aldred returned to Scotland in 1956 where he held the position of Keeper of Art and Archaeology until his retirement in 1974.
Cyril Aldred had a profound fascination with ancient Egyptian jewellery, which led him to publish "Jewels of the Pharaohs" in 1971. The two replica brooches included in this lot were made by him as an experiment to better understand the techniques used by ancient Egyptian goldsmiths and they were given to select guests at the opening of the redesigned galleries at the Metropolitan Museum in 1964. Also included in the lot is a copy of Cyril Aldred's 'Akhenaten and Nefertiti', signed by the author.
During World War II, he served in the RAF, and when he returned to Edinburgh in 1946, he focused exclusively on Egyptology. His book "Old Kingdom Art in Ancient Egypt" was published in 1949, followed by volumes on the Middle and New Kingdoms respectively in 1950 and 1952. In 1955 he worked as an associate curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, under William C. Hayes. Despite the potential for becoming Hayes' successor, Aldred returned to Scotland in 1956 where he held the position of Keeper of Art and Archaeology until his retirement in 1974.
Cyril Aldred had a profound fascination with ancient Egyptian jewellery, which led him to publish "Jewels of the Pharaohs" in 1971. The two replica brooches included in this lot were made by him as an experiment to better understand the techniques used by ancient Egyptian goldsmiths and they were given to select guests at the opening of the redesigned galleries at the Metropolitan Museum in 1964. Also included in the lot is a copy of Cyril Aldred's 'Akhenaten and Nefertiti', signed by the author.