Egyptian Lapis Amulet of Goddess Maat, Gold Pendant

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Fine Antiquities, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Ethno...

By Artemis Gallery

May 11, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-05-11 10:00:00 2023-05-11 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-pre-columbian-ethnographic-art-12771
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• Lot Description
  **Originally Listed At $3000**
  
  Late Dynastic Period, 26th Dynasty, ca. 664 to 525 BCE. A rare lapis lazuli pendant depicting the figural form of Maat, the goddess embodying the concepts of order, righteousness, and truth. Maat is more frequently referred to as a concept rather than as a physical deity, and her figural form is typically accompanied by the feather of truth (or feather of maat); examples from the Late Dynastic Period did not include this feather for ease of manufacturing. Maat is shown here squatting atop an integral plinth, knees extended over petite feet, while her expressive visage peers into the distance. The pendant is set within a modern 14K white gold setting for presentation and on a necklace cord for wearability! Size (pendant): 0.6" W x 1.05" H (1.5 cm x 2.7 cm); (setting): 0.72" W x 1.64" H (1.8 cm x 4.2 cm); (cord): 22" L (55.9 cm)
  
  Maat is one of the oldest deities in the Egyptian pantheon and represents far more than simple black-and-white ideals. Egyptologist Carol Andrews explains how "Maat represents all kinds of abstract concepts, such as cosmic order, truth, justice and righteousness, personified as a squatting woman, her hands on her knees and single ostrich plume on her head . . . Contemporary examples in the round in Egyptian blue often lack the feather for manufacturing reasons." (Andrews, Carol. Amulets of Ancient Egypt. University of Texas Press, Austin, 1994, pp. 21-22). The ideal of maat was vital to the lives of ancient Egyptians as it not only defined how well an individual life should be lived but also created a sense of societal morality, a structure of norms by which the populace should abide if they are to meet each other again in the afterlife. Further, Egyptologist Garry J. Shaw explains: "The aim of every living being, from the gods to the pharaoh and mankind, was to ensure that order (maat) was not overtaken by disorder (isfet). To the Egyptians, maat permeated all things, and those who broke its laws were punished, whether they knew of them or not. The gods even lived on maat, referring to it as their beer, food and drink." (Shaw, Garry J. The Egyptian Myths: A Guide to the Ancient Gods and Legends. Thames & Hudson Ltd., London, 2014, p. 31)
  
  Provenance: private Southern California, USA collection, bestowed 2006; ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, acquired before 2006; ex-Hesperia Auction, New York, USA, November 27, 1990, Lot 25
  
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  #175848

  Condition

  Wearable as shown and constructed in modern times. Lapis lazuli amulet is ancient; necklace cord and white gold setting are modern. Amulet has minor abrasions and nicks commensurate with age, otherwise intact and excellent. Great preservation to figural form and finer details.
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