Egyptian Bronze Harpokrates Statuette

LATE-PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, 664-30 B.C.

4 1/4 in. (59 grams, 10.7 cm).

Devotional figurine of Harpokrates seated with his hand raised to his mouth, wearing a nemes headdress with curled side lock, topped by an elaborate hem-hem crown characteristic of the god.

Provenance

From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

Literature

Cf. Roeder, G., Ägyptische Bronzefiguren II, Berlin, 1956, pl. 22a, for a similar example.

Footnotes

Harpokrates is the Greek rendering of the Egyptian name Hor-pa-khered, which means ‘Horus the Child’. This name refers to Horus as the divine infant of Isis and Osiris. Wearing an amulet of Harpokrates was believed to offer the same protection that Isis granted to her beloved son. Larger bronze statuettes like this example were likely votive offerings to Harpokrates to secure his favour and protection.

CONDITION

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LOT 0476