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LOT 0027
Egyptian Alabaster Trussed Duck
OLD KINGDOM, 6TH DYNASTY, CIRCA 2345-2181 B.C.
4 in. (890 grams total, 10 cm wide including stand).
Carved in the round with the head and neck laid backwards along the spine; mounted on a custom-made stand.
ProvenanceAcquired before 1970.
Private French collection.
with Bonhams, New Bond Street, London, 29 April 2009, lot 58.
Ex Middle Eastern royal family, living in the UK, 2013-2017.
Accompanied by a copy of a French cultural passport no.099505.
Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate, no.S000149104.
Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12942-245247.
Cf. S. D'Auria, et al, Mummies and Magic - The Funerary Arts of Ancient Egypt, Boston, 1988, p.38, fig 25, for examples of model offerings.
FootnotesIn ancient Egypt, the duck (actually the Egyptian goose) was considered a sacred and very popular animal, often depicted in art and associated with symbolic meanings. It was a common bird in the Nile Valley and considered a symbol of fertility, life, and family, which is why it frequently appeared in scenes of daily life and rituals, and in the artworks.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0027
Egyptian Alabaster Trussed Duck
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000€8,120 - 10,440 (for guidance only)$9,450 - 12,150 (for guidance only)
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In early Christian iconography, the hare was a symbol representing primarily the Church hiding in Christ (the ‘rock’ of Psalm 103:18) from a sinful world. This interpretation drew from the Old Testament's description of the hare as a weak creature that makes its lair in the rock, signifying the Church's reliance on Christ for safety. It was also linked to resurrection and fertility. -
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