Loading, please wait...
LOT 0482
Large Egyptian Gilt Bronze Head of Osiris
LATE PERIOD, 664-525 B.C.
4 1/2 in. (199 grams, 11.4 cm).
Modelled in the round wearing the atef crown (hedjet with lateral ostrich feathers) and uraeus to the brow with tail extending up the crown, detailed false beard with coiled finial; eyes recessed to accept inlays; tip of crown missing.
ProvenanceAcquired on the German art market, 1989-1995.
with The Museum Gallery, 19 Bury Place, London, WC1, UK, 1998-2003.
Property of a London based academic, 2003-present.
Cf. Daressy, G., Catalogue général des antiquités égyptiennes du Musée du Caire N° 38001-39384 Statues de divinités, Cairo, 1906, pl. XVI, no. 38.261, for complete statuette with comparable head.
FootnotesOsiris is a deity who represents death and fertility and is commonly regarded as the quintessential god of rebirth. Though he was once a mortal ruler, as a deceased entity, his domain was the Underworld. Abydos was the primary centre of Osiris’ cult, where a renowned yearly celebration of the god was held. This head comes from a once sizeable statuette of the god.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
-
Egyptian Alabaster Bowl with Incised Inner Circle
Old Kingdom, circa 2700-2513 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
Squat bowl with returned lip to the rim, incised ring to the centre. 749 grams, 21 cm wide
Acquired from Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie FRS FBA (1853-1942), who had both found and repaired the piece; a British Egyptologist and a pioneer of systematic methodology in archaeology and the preservation of artefacts. From the private collection of the late Mrs Belinda Ellison, long time member of the Egyptian Exploration Society, c.1940-2020. -
Egyptian Faience Amulet of Nut
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
Amulet of a sow representing the goddess Nut; suspension loop on top. 2.63 grams, 24 mm
From the Florence Rosetti collection, UK, circa 1950s. Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman.
This miniature sow pendant features a loop at the top and was worn as an amulet. The sow is often associated with the sky goddess Nut, who was believed to give birth to the stars every night, and then consume them at dawn. Despite the sow's reputation for devouring its offspring, Nut, in this form, was revered as a nurturing and safeguarding deity. A sow-shaped amulet was likely intended to offer protection to its wearer. -
Phoenician Faience and Stone Bead Necklace String
Late 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Restrung designer group of melon, spherical and other beads. 39 grams, 44 cm long
From the H.N. collection, Milton Keynes, Berkshire, UK, 1990s.
