More Than Just a Load of Old Stones?

Robert de Rustafjaell (1859–1943) was one of the most interesting and enigmatic collectors of the early twentieth century. His collections were dispersed in five sales: Sotheby’s, 19–21 Dec 1906 (550 lots), 9–10 Dec 1907 (245 lots), 20–24 Jan 1913 (1051 lots), Paris 29 May 1914, and New York 29 Nov–1 Dec 1915 (745 lots). The first sale produced £1,843, the second £308-12, the third £2,748, and the fifth $12,760. A posthumous sale took place in New York 13–14 Dec 1949. According to Hagen and Ryholt (2014, 160, 162, 259), Rustafjaell would issue press releases about important discoveries, all of which were related to objects in his own collection, which had, rather conveniently, just appeared at auction. The ultimate aim was to drive up the price by creating a bidding war! Objects from these sales have since ended up in the British Museum, British Library, Berlin Museum, the Louvre, and many other museums. During the first two sales in 1906 and 1907, Sir Henry Wellcome bought extensively, with at least 500 objects from these sales now in the Egypt Centre collection. Perhaps the most unusual of all these objects are eleven stones, which will be the focus of this blog (fig. 1). But what are they, and are they more than just a load of old stones?

Fig. 1: EC1432g

EC1432a–k are eleven fairly large and irregularly shaped stones, all of which have a hollow. Some bear their lot stickers of 204/6 or 206/7, indicating that they were purchased by Wellcome during the 1907 Rustafjaell sale. The auction catalogue describes both as “a similar lot”. However, they are preceded by the following text: “WATER RECEPTACLES IN LIMESTONE AND FLINT, used in the fabrication of Flint Implements in the palaeolithic period. [Plate II]. A description of these very interesting vessels and an account of their discovery on the plateau of the Desert, W. of Thebes, has recently been published by Mr. Rt. De Rustafjaell, “Palaeolithic Vessels of Egypt: The earliest handiwork of Man” (Macmillan & Co.). The evidence of the use of such vessels in the manufacture of flint instruments is shown by the wall painting (of a very much later period) discovered at Beni Hassan. The receptacles seem to have been selected from stones having a natural hollow on one surface: they were then roughly fashioned into shape and the hollow artificially enlarged. Unfortunately most of the distinct evidence of this artificial enlargement has disappeared, partly by the accidental abrasion arising from long-continued use, and mostly by the weathering to which the objects have been subjected since the very remote period of their production.” (fig. 2)

Fig. 2: Plate II of the 1907 catalogue showing two "vessels" on the top row and two on the bottom

As noted in the description, these “vessels” were published by Rustafjaell shortly before the auction took place. Rustafjaell describes exploring the Western Desert in the Theban region during the first half of 1907. The largest of the “vessels” were found near the area of el-Mallah, halfway between Luxor and Nagada on the West Bank of the Nile (Rustafjaell 1907, fig. 1). He notes that “this site was undoubtedly then a ‘factory’ of limestone water vessels, and the halting pace in the valley below, where we took shelter, probably served as the distributing centre for this kind of ware (fig. 3). It is probable that these vessels were hewn out with Palaeolithic flint implements, and indeed two axeheads were found near the cluster” (Rustafjaell 1907, 18). Additionally, “the cavities thus produced by natural means would hold water readily, and it was no doubt the sight of these natural vessels that first prompted the palaeolithic man to an artificial adaption with the same purpose in view” (de Rustafjaell 1907, 14).

Fig. 3: De Rustafjaell 1909, Plate XII

Are these objects really early receptacles for liquids and the inspiration for later stone vessels, as proposed by Rustafjaell? Well, not quite. These objects are nothing more than natural stones (fig. 4)! But did Rustafjaell really think that they were ancient “vessels” or was this a ruse to making some money out of nothing? Lots 202–208 are all described as similar objects, which amounted to forty-eight items. If Rustafjaell really was trying to cash in on his “discovery”, he would no doubt have been disappointed as these five lots for very little money. Wellcome, possibly disappointed with the purchases his agents made during the 1907 sale—aside from the lots described above, a high percentage of those purchased were fakes—bought very few lots during the 1913 sale.

Fig. 4: The Illustrated London New article announcing the discovery

Perhaps quite appropriately, Rustafjaell (1907, 22) finishes his booklet with the following words: “Time alone can turn conjecture into certainty and future generations may have exact knowledge where we can only form theories”.

Bibliography:

De Rustafjaell, Robert 1907. Palaeolithic vessels of Egypt: or the earliest handiwork of man. London: Macmillan.

———. 1909. The light of Egypt: from recently discovered predynastic and early Christian records. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner.

———. 1914. The stone age in Egypt; a record of recently discovered implements and products of handicraft of the archaic Nilotic races inhabiting the Thebaid. New York: W. E. Rudge.

Hagen, Fredrik and Kim Ryholt 2016. The antiquities trade in Egypt 1880–1930: the H.O. Lange papers. Scientia Danica. Series H, Humanistica, 4 8. Copenhagen: Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab.

Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge 1906. Catalogue of the collection of Egyptian antiquities, formed in Egypt by R. De Rustafjaell, which will be sold by auction by Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge...19th December, 1906 and two following days... London: Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge.

———. 1907. Catalogue of a collection of antiquities from Egypt, ... being the second portion of the collection of Robert de Rustafjaell, esq. F.R.G.S, which will be sold by auction, ... on Monday, the 9th of December, 1907, and the following day. London: Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge.

———. 1913. Catalogue of the remaining part of the valuable collection of Egyptian antiquities formed by Robert de Rustafjaell, Esq. London: Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge.