Beschreibung:

A mahogany box containing antiquities collected by the Reverend William MacGregor, the box with hinged lid opening to reveal ten hand written descriptions by William MacGregor describing the contents therein to include: a blue glazed Shabti 11cm high with William MacGregor notes as from the H K Myers collection, a black stone scarab 6.25cm long, noted as from the R Bethall collection, an Egyptian mummy necklace of blue cylindrical beads noted as 'Excavated by Professor Petrie', Egyptian hardstone Udjat 2.25cm long, an Egyptian blue glazed amulet noted as from the Hilton Price collection, various scarabs, an Egyptian black glass bangle 6.5cm diameter and an Egyptian carved alabaster vase, 9cm high etc. NOTE; The Reverend William MacGregor born in 1848 in Liverpool, his Scottish grandfather made his fortune as a merchant and banker whilst his father owned a thriving Liverpool iron foundry, William educated at Rugby then went to Oxford University to study law but instead chose a life devoted to the church his first post of curate at Hopwas in Tamworth Staffordshire. After a brief spell returning to Liverpool as vicar of St Mathias church MacGregor returned to Tamworth as vicar of St Edithas Church. In 1885 MacGregor began to develop a potentially life threatening illness of the lungs probably as a result of Tamworth's growing cholera or typhoid cases. On advice from his doctor he wintered in the dry climate of Egypt and there became entranced by the country and its history. That same year he joined the Egypt Exploration Society and quickly became involved in its activities. By 1888 MacGregor was assisting Edouard Naville the fund excavator with a dig in Bubastis where he also took on the roll of photographer. In 1902 MacGregor began to sponsor excavations alongside fellow benefactors and museums beginning with Abydos then being excavated under the direction of Flinders Petrie on behalf of University College London. MacGregor's involvement as benefactor entitled him to a share of the antiquities found. Already a collector of Turner paintings from his visit to Egypt he turned his attention to acquiring Egyptian antiquities. In 1921 MacGregor decided to sell his collection to the firm of Messrs Spink & Son in the summer of the following year the collection was offered in 1800 lots through Sotheby's. A total of over 8000 pieces were sold over a period of nine days and it was hailed as a remarkable collection of Egyptian antiquities unparalleled by any other private collection in England, Europe or America. (Sothebys & Co. 1922) - see Beverley Rodgers, the Reverend William MacGregor an early Industrialist Collector