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LOT 0461
Egyptian Bronze Ibis Attachment
LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C. OR LATER
2 3/8 in. (114 grams, 60 mm).
Modelled in the round squatting on an ellipsoid base, lug to the underside, repaired.
ProvenanceFrom the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
LiteratureCf. Roeder, G., Ägyptische Bronzefiguren II, Berlin, 1956, pls.57f, 58a, for similar low-squatting examples.
FootnotesThe ibis, particularly the sacred species known as the Egyptian ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), held a prominent place in ancient Egyptian religion and culture as a manifestation of the god Thoth. Revered as the deity of wisdom, writing, and knowledge, Thoth was often depicted in human form with the head of an ibis.
During the Late Period onwards, the practice of mummifying ibises became widespread, leading to the creation of vast necropolises dedicated to these sacred birds. In places like Saqqara and Hermopolis, thousands of ibis mummies have been discovered in specially constructed catacombs. The mummification of these birds was not merely a ritual act; it was seen as a sacred offering to Thoth, meant to honour the god and seek his favour. Egyptians believed that by preserving the ibis through mummification, they could ensure its safe passage to the afterlife, establishing a direct connection between the earthly realm and the divine. These mummies were often accompanied by votive offerings, like this bronze figurine, further emphasising the relationship between the ibises and Thoth.
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AUCTIONS:
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Egyptian Faience and Gold Bead Bracelet
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
A designer restrung three-strand bracelet composed of gold and composition beads coloured shades of blue, cream and brown; modern silver-coloured clasp; accompanied with a note reading 'Egyptian, Faience New Kingdom Beaded Bracelet, C. 1570-30 BC- New Kingdom to Ptolemaic Period. beautiful, restrung, elegant Egyptian beaded bracelet consisting of a selection of turquoise coloured, faience tubular beads & polychromatic disc-shaped beads, in a style inspired by the earliest bracelets known (from about 3000 BC) which were found in the tomb of King Djer.' 3.89 grams, 19 cm
Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman. Restrung from various accumulations of Egyptian beads from the last 30 years. -
Egyptian Alabaster Jar
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Of squat profile with flattened base, flat shoulder and rounded rim. 574 grams, 11.5 cm wide
From a West Country, UK, collection, 1980-2020s. -
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Egyptian Bronze Figure of Horus Standing on an Oryx
Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C.Estimate: £20,000 - 30,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £10,000
Standing falcon-headed deity with eyes inlaid in gold, wearing the traditional shendyt kilt, a tripartite wig topped by the double crown (pa-sekhemty) fronted by a uraeus, as worn by Egyptian pharaohs, and a wesekh collar; the figure depicted striding forward, with the position of the left arm and drilled hand indicating that it originally held the shaft of a sceptre or a weapon; the right hand also drilled to hold an attribute; the rectangular base featuring a low-relief depiction of an oryx beneath the god’s feet, the four sides of the base bear a line of hieroglyphic invocation giving the name of the deity represented by the statuette and those of the dedicator and his family; two tenons on underside for attachment; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.1 kg total, 23 cm high including stand
with Sakae Art Gallery, Nagoya, Japan, 1981. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Alberto Pollastrini. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.13161-248074.
The hieroglyphic inscription surrounding the base is worn and difficult to interpret. Based on the formulas preserved on similar statuettes, a tentative interpretation of its meaning can be proposed. The text begins with the customary formula ḏd mdw, meaning “words to be spoken,” followed by the hieroglyph of a falcon, indicating that the deity addressed is Horus. The following signs are unclear, making it hard to identify which specific form of Horus is meant, possibly Horus of Hebenu or Horus the Elder. The formula continues with a plea for the god to grant the dedicator life, prosperity, health, longevity, and a good old age. The inscription ends with the name of the offerer: “Pa-iu, son of Pa-di-Aset; his mother Ta-heret; and his wife Aset, justified.”
