Choice Egyptian Leaded Bronze Osiris, Ex Christie's

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Exceptional Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographi...

By Artemis Gallery

Jun 10, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-06-10 10:00:00 2021-06-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-7012
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• Lot Description
  Ancient Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A striking cast leaded-bronze mummiform figure; a beautiful representation of Osiris, the god of the Underworld. Osiris is presented here in splendid condition with a deep green patina, a long thin postiche beard, and a broad collar. Osiris stands with arms across his body, holding the crook in his right hand and flail in the left, both items are crafted in high detail. He wears the Atef crown, which combines the ostrich feathers of the cult of Osiris with the Hedjet, the symbol of Upper Egypt, with the sacred uraeus cobra, depicted on its frontal area, a symbol of royal divinity. His serene countenance presents almond-shaped eyes with thick lids and elongated canthi, flared nostrils, full lips, and cupped ears. This would have been a votive figure, perhaps made to be kept in a wealthy home and prayed to, deposited in a temple as an offering, or, most likely, kept for ritual with other metallic objects by priests. This Osiris was acquired in the 1900s and has an antique pen & ink label on base indicating this piece may have originated in Karnak. Size: 1.675" W x 6.25" H (4.3 cm x 15.9 cm); 7.25" H (18.4 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Osiris is one of the most revered gods in Egyptian civilization and is sometimes referred to as the son of Ra, the sun god, and father of the falcon-headed god Horus. In hieroglyphs Osiris is often depicted with green skin, evocative of his role in the afterlife; or with brown skin, indicating an associated also with fertility, in this case the mud of the Nile, whose seasonal flood was the most important natural event in ancient Egypt.
  
  For a similar piece, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 74.51.5584.
  
  This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
  
  Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Christie's London, King Street, April 20, 2005, sale 7161, lot 387; ex-John Seymour Lucas R. A. collection, England, acquired in the 1900s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #164567

  Condition

  Minor nicks and abrasions to Atef crown, face, arms, body, legs, and base. Faint mark or symbol on verso. Light softening to some finer details, and light encrustations within some recessed areas, otherwise intact and choice. Rich patina throughout.
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