LOT 0026

Egyptian Basalt Torso of Naophorous

LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C.

9 7/8 in. (5.2 kg total, 25 cm high including stand).

Carved in the round depicting a male carrying a rectangular shrine intended to hold a figure of a goddess; arms and upper chest bare, strap to the chest to support an apron, dorsal pillar to the reverse; accompanied by a custom-made stand.

From the collection of Danish furniture designer Ole Wanscher (1903-1985).
Ole Wanscher was a leading figure of the Scandinavian Design movement.
Wanscher was inspired by ancient designs, and one of his most famous creations, the 'Egyptian Stool', was based on folding chairs from Egypt's New Kingdom.
This piece is visible in the background of a photo of Wanscher in his office, circa 1960.

Accompanied by an academic report by Egyptologist Paul Whelan.
Accompanied by a copy of the photo of Wanscher in his office, circa 1960.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11843-207728.

Cf. similar complete figure in the collection of the British Museum under accession no.EA41517.

Naophorous statues first appear in the New Kingdom, though standing figures with shrines were most popular during the Late and Ptolemaic Periods. Such statues were set up in temples as revealed by the discoveries made between 1895 and 1917 in the Amun temple precincts at Karnak, where thousands of statues, including naopharoi, were recovered from caches.