Egyptian Faience Striding Tawaret Figure

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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
  Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A stunningly detailed, mold-formed faience figure of Tawaret (also Taweret, Tauret, Apet, Opet), the goddess of child birthing and suckling as well as a protector of women, children, and the weak. Tawaret's composite form is defined with the feet of a lioness, the spine and tail of a crocodile, the breasts and bulging belly of a pregnant woman, and the head of a hippopotamus. Standing in a striding pose atop an integral plinth, Tawaret presents with her left foot forward, both arms placed defensively against her womb, and shoulders back in a relaxed manner. Her veristic visage bears petite, almond-shaped eyes above puffy cheeks, a bi-lobed snout with bared teeth and protruding tongue, and perky ears framed with the striated lappets of her incised tripartite wig. An integral suspension loop along the dorsal spine indicates this figure was at one time worn as a pendant either by a living individual or perhaps a mummified woman who died in childbirth. Layers of pistachio and sage green glaze envelop the entire figure to create a wondrous presentation evocative of ancient Egyptian birthing beliefs. Size: 1.125" W x 4.375" H (2.9 cm x 11.1 cm); 4.9" H (12.4 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  According to scholar Paul Hamlyn, "[Tawaret] was especially worshipped in Thebes where, under the New Kingdom, she enjoyed great popularity among people of the middle class, who often gave her name to their children and decorated their houses with her images. As well as her role of protectress Taueret sometimes fulfilled that of an avenging deity: then she would appear as a goddess with the body of a hippopotamus but the head of a lioness who brandished a dagger in a menacing manner." (Paul Hamlyn Limited. "Egyptian Mythology." Tudor Publishing Company, New York, 1965, p. 110)
  
  Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 04.2.365
  
  Provenance: private Corpus Christi, Texas, USA estate collection, acquired 1960s to 1970s
  
  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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  #165077

  Condition

  Figure reattached to plinth at ankles with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Losses to most of proper left arm and most of proper left forearm as shown. Light overpainting along some areas of abdomen and breasts, with darkening to areas of remaining glaze, and light encrustations within some recessed areas. Beautiful preservation to overall figure and facial details.
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