Rare Egyptian Late Period Wooden Headrest

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Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Sep 27, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-09-27 10:00:00 2018-09-27 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/antiquities-asian-ethnographic-3469
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• Lot Description
  Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A large wooden headrest, hand-carved from a single piece of hardwood, with a rectangular base, a multi-faceted stem, and a curved resting platform. Examples like this are far more uncommon as typical headrests were comprised of two or even three pieces. The wood has taken on a lustrous light-brown patina, with slightly more wear within the recess of the headrest platform itself. Headrests like this were used either as a utilitarian means of sleeping comfortably or as the support for a mummy's head in some cases. A wonderful and intact example from ancient Egypt! Size: 6.125" W x 6.375" H (15.6 cm x 16.2 cm).
  
  Headrests were important articles used for Egyptian sleeping areas, and are thought to have had several functions. According to scholars, Egyptians typically slept on their sides, so the curved upper section of the headrest would have held the head above the bed. These headrests were oftentimes also buried with the mummy in order to providing a place for the deceased's head to rest. In addition, elevating the head was integral to Egyptian religious practices as this position was intended to assist in resurrection - mimicking the sun god rising above the horizon - as well as playing a role in the "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony described in the "Book of the Dead."
  
  For a similar example, see Petrie WMF "Objects of Daily Use" (1927) Headrests, VI - XI Dynasties, Plate XXXi #26
  
  Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA; ex-old estate collection, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA, acquired in the mid-20th century
  
  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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  #132830

  Condition

  Surface wear commensurate with age and use as expected, small nicks to corners of head platform and base, with old carving marks across most surfaces, otherwise intact and excellent. Nice earthen deposits and great light-brown patina throughout. An old painted collection ID on stem reads "Head-Rest Sudan, Egypt."
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