Rare Egyptian Late Dynastic Amethyst Goat Amulet

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Fine Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Dec 2, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-12-02 10:00:00 2021-12-02 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-7918
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• Lot Description
  Egypt, Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic Period, ca.664 to 30 BCE. A beautiful amulet of a goat carved from a lovely and nearly translucent amethyst stone. The goat stands on an integral rectangular pedestal with delineated legs. The body is lightly incised with lines to indicate fur texture. Almond-shaped eyes flank the slender snout and petite nostrils, and a short goatee protrudes from his chin. Surrounding each ear is a semicircular horn with lightly incised grooves. Amethyst and other semi-precious stones were cherished for their beauty and amethyst was popular for shaping miniature animals which were used a ritualistic statuary in temples or tombs. This goat is delightfully naturalistic with fine details and may have been used as fertility amulet or an offering to the god Banebdjed. Size: 1.3" L x 0.5" W x 1.25" H (3.3 cm x 1.3 cm x 3.2 cm)
  
  In northern Egypt the god Banebdjed was a ram headed deity who was the equivalent to the god Khnum, one of the oldest deities who is the source of the Nile River. Unlike Khnum, Banebdjed was lesser known, but had a cult following in Djedet (Mendes). He was worshiped for his fertility and virility; indeed, he was known as the Lord of Sexual Pleasure. In one myth, the god Ptah even took the form of Banebdjed to ensure a fruitful union with the mother of Rameses II. Greek and Roman provincial rule influenced the depictions of Banebdjed. In later periods his popularity grew, and he was often given billy-goat characteristics, as seen here, rather than ram -sheep. The Greek and Roman’s drew connections between the fertility symbolism of Banebdjed with their satyr god, Pan.
  
  Cf. an agate example from the Ptolemaic or Roman Period at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 30.8.354
  
  This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
  
  Provenance: ex-private West Hollywood, California, USA collection; ex-New Jersey collection assembled in the 1980s
  
  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.
  
  #166427

  Condition

  Losses to horns. Abrasion and stable fissure on neck. Stable hairline fissures within the base. Nice details throughout.
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