Rare Egyptian Ptolemaic Glass / Pottery Eyes (Bonhams)

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Connoisseur's Delight Fine Art & Antiquities

By Artemis Gallery

Jun 27, 2024

Set Reminder 2024-06-27 11:00:00 2024-06-27 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Connoisseur's Delight Fine Art & Antiquities https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/connoisseurs-delight-fine-art-antiquities-16181
Classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Ancient Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, Dynasties 26 through 30, ca. 662 to 315 BCE. An alluring and rare pair of arched deep blue glass eye rims with extended cosmetic lines, inlaid with white-painted terracotta sclera and obsidian ovoid irises and pupils. These eyes would have come from a funerary mask or sarcophagus in a Royal burial. Size (of larger): 3.15" L x 1.1" H (8 cm x 2.8 cm); total weight: 24.3 grams
  
  Eyes were an incredibly important part of ancient Egyptian funerary accoutrement. For example, the eyes on sarcophagi could be complimented by paintings of eyes as well, often alongside the symbol for eternity. Eyes provided a window to the outside world for the mummy inside to see. The ancient Egyptian religion required its practitioners to purchase and use a tremendous amount of items for protection in death, and because these items - like these fine, expensive eyes - were usually made by priests, this enriched the priesthood and temples, who were hugely powerful in Egyptian society.
  
  Ancient Egyptians believed it was of the utmost importance to preserve a body of the deceased, because the soul needed a place to reside after the death. Preservation of the body was done via mummification - a process involving the removal of internal organs that were placed in canopic jars, wrapping body in linen, and then embalming. Death masks like these eyes would have adorned were created so that the soul could recognize the body and return to it. For this reason, death masks were made in the likeness of the deceased. The eyes in particular were used by the deceased to see in death.
  
  For similar see: Archaeological Museum of Florence, Inv. n. 2419 b and 2424.
  
  Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired April 2024 via London auction house; ex-Prince collection; ex-Bonhams, London, Knightsbridge, United Kingdom, April 1, 2014, lot 273; ex-private United Kingdom collection, formed during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
  
  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.
  
  #187318

  Condition

  Both eyes have been professionally repaired with visible adhesive and beak lines, as well as age-expected nicks and abrasions. Otherwise, nice presentation with good remaining pigments and light earthen deposits throughout.
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