Details

LOT 0001

Egyptian Superb Large Shabti of Horemheb son of Takhaouti

LATE PERIOD, 664-332 BC

6 3/4" (190 grams, 17cm).

A glazed composition shabti of Horemheb, son of Takhaouti, with mummiform body; wearing a tripartite wig and false beard; hands crossed over chest holding pick and hoe, seed basket to the back of left shoulder; horizontal columns of hieroglyphs with Chapter Six from the Book of the Dead: 'O shabti figure, if Horemheb son of Takhaouti is called up to do any work that is done there in the underworld then the markers are struck for him, there as for a man for his duty, be counted yourself at any time that might be done to cultivate the marsh, to irrigate the riverbank fields, to ferry sand to west or east. 'I am doing it, see, Here am I', you are to say'; standing on a small plinth with supporting back pillar.

Provenance

From the Meyer family collection, France; acquired by the current owner's father in 1991 from Thierry Lux, who inherited them from his father Joseph Claer; accompanied by a copy of a Joseph Claer biography, the current collection notes, and the original French passport number 130991, dated 21 October 2011.

Joseph Claer (born 9/5/1859) lived and worked in Dornach, Switzerland, in the family painting and decorating business. Claer was responsible for the decoration of many of the churches of the upper Rhine area badly damaged during World War I. He was a prolific collector of antiquities and curiosities from around the world and created an important collection which remained largely intact after his death in 1929, with only a small number ending up in museums. This collection consists mainly of wooden and metal statuettes, approximately two hundred stained glass windows, numerous paintings, sketches, engravings, antique fireplaces and furniture.

CONDITION