Egyptian Lapis Amulet of Goddess Maat, Gold Pendant

About Auction

Live

Exceptional Antiquities, Ethnographic and Fin...

By Artemis Gallery

Jun 29, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-06-29 10:00:00 2023-06-29 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Ethnographic and Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-and-fine-art-13031
Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (339)

• Lot Description
  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
  
  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.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #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.
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.50 %