Egyptian Ptolemaic Mummified Falcon

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Fine Antiquities, Ethnographic & Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

Aug 13, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-08-13 10:00:00 2020-08-13 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Ethnographic & Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-5415
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• Lot Description
  Egypt, Ptolemaic Period, ca. 332 to 30 BCE. An intriguing example of a falcon that has undergone the process of mummification. Coarse linens bind the legs tightly together and the wings against the chest cavity, and the unwrapped head is tilted slightly sideways. The interior of the chest is visible through the parted wrappings in front of the body, and the exposed head displays its pointed beak and hollow, circular eye sockets. The raptor-like legs are visible within the lower wrappings and bear curled talons. Though distinctly avian in form, falcon mummies from the Egyptian Late Period were once identified as children due to their size until they were unwrapped. Size (falcon): 9.1" L x 3.1" W (23.1 cm x 7.9 cm); (wood base): 5.8" L x 8.55" W x 3.3" H (14.7 cm x 21.7 cm x 8.4 cm); (lid): 6.9" L x 9.75" W x 10" H (17.5 cm x 24.8 cm x 25.4 cm)
  
  While known primarily for mummifying humans, the ancient Egyptians also mummified their animals on a regular basis as well. Mummified falcons like this example are suggestive of being someone's pet or perhaps an expensive offering to the falcon-headed gods Horus and Ra. In addition to house pets buried alongside their owners, a large market existed for mummified animals - from birds to cats and bulls to crocodiles - intended as sacred offerings to the many gods and goddesses of the Egyptian pantheon. The market for sacrificial animals for mummification was in fact so large that it necessitated an entire industry which researchers believe produced more than 70 million animal mummies between 800 BCE and 400 CE.
  
  Another example of a mummified falcon from the Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic period (ca. 664 to 30 BCE) hammered for EUR 7,500 ($8,467.12) at Christie's, Amsterdam "Twenty rooms: The private collection of the late Mrs. Elias-Vaes" auction (sale 2857, April 27-29, 2010, lot 36).
  
  Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection, acquired around 2018; ex-private estate collection, Carlsbad, California, USA, acquired in Egypt and imported into the USA in the early 1970s
  
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  #156315

  Condition

  Losses to some frontal areas of linen wraps as well as most tail feathers, but shafts still remain. Head is devoid of linen wrappings and is exposed. Darkening to remaining feather coloration, with staining and desiccation to linen wraps commensurate with age and environmental conditions, minor chips to head and beak, and encrustations on body within wrappings. Great earthen deposits and remains of original linens throughout.
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