LOT 0026

Large Egyptian Bronze Osiris with Silver-Inlaid Eyes

LATE PERIOD, 26TH-30TH DYNASTY, 664-332 B.C.

12 1/4 in. (1.15 kg total, 31 cm high including stand).

Modelled mummiform with arms crossed at the chest, holding crook and flail with highlighted features, wearing a plaited false beard and Atef crown mounted on two curved ram's horns, flanked by detailed ostrich feathers and frontal uraeus; natural facial detailing with silver inlaid eyes and large protruding ears; accompanied by a custom-made display stand.

Norman Blankman collection, New York, 1960s.
P.G. collection, New York, USA.
with Art for Eternity, New York.
with Bonhams, London, 6 July 2023, lot 360.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11945-210564.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 56.16.2, for a comparable 26th Dynasty example; Museo Stibbert, Florence, statuette inv. no. 11169; Del Francia, P. R., 'Le antichità egizie' in AA. VV., 'Frederick Stibbert, gentiluomo, collezionista e sognatore, Rivista del Museo Stibbert 3, Firenze, 2000, p.90, n.3, pl.20; see Robins, G., Egyptian Shabtis, Shire Egyptology 26, Princes Risborough, 2001, pp.19.

Osiris was the foremost of ancient Egyptian funerary deities and lord of the underworld. Many statuettes of the god were offered in temples dedicated in his name, and have also been discovered in other contexts including animal necropoleis and temples dedicated to other gods.