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 a highly detailed crook and flail. 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. Size: 1.1" W x 4" H (2.8 cm x 10.2 cm); 4.6" H (11.7 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.
Provenance: private Toronto, Ontario, Canada collection, by descent, acquired in Egypt in 1894 to 1896
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.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#167107
Condition
Some abrasions and softening of detail. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice patina.