EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBRare / Large Egyptian Faience Finial of Bes (Dwarf)
About Seller
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
LiveNov 16, 2023
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Nautical, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (267)
- Lot Description
Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate Period, 22nd to 25th Dynasty, ca. 945 to 664 BCE. A rare and quite remarkable faience finial depicting the dwarf deity, Bes, who served as a protector of homes and childbirth, as well as music and merriment. Standing on a papyriform base, with a monkey between his legs and ostrich plumes atop his head, he holds a doum-palm nut to the mouth of a child in his arms. The child also has Bes-like features and headdress, and all is enveloped in blue and black glaze. This finial may have been mounted to a wood handle as a rattle- holes at the top of his feather crown and in his ears would have held cords with beads or other rattling elements for sound. Such a piece would have likely been carried and used in rituals to invoke Bes and other associated deities, such as Hathor. Size: 2.7" W x 5.8" H (6.9 cm x 14.7 cm); 7.1" H (18 cm) on included custom stand.
Bes, the bandy-legged leonine dwarf god, was an apotropaic deity, the protector of the home, children, and women in pregnancy and childbirth. In his role as protector of the home he was thought to dispel bad dreams, and by increasing virility in men and fertility in women, he was seen as a symbol of fecundity. When depicted in full form, he is generally depicted nude, wearing a lion's mane, a plumed headdress, and a tail. He is also seen dancing, brandishing a sword, or frightening off evil spirits by playing music. Bes continued to be a popularly depicted protective deity well into the Graeco-Roman Period.
The doum-nut that Bes is feeding the child is regarded as a sweet treat, the nuts are used to make cakes, juice, and wine. The doum-palm tree and its fruit were sacred to ancient Egyptians, the nuts were often given as offerings to the deceased and baskets of doum nuts were also buried with King Tutankhamun to enjoy in the afterlife!
compare to examples at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession #: 2015.11, and British Museum, object #: EA26267.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA, purchased from Pierre Berges Auction, Paris, France, October 10, 2017, lot 144; ex-A.K., Great Britain collection, 1970
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.
#182079Condition
Chipping to base with possible old loss. Expected nicks and abrasions as shown commensurate with age. Otherwise, mostly intact and excellent with nicely preserved as detail.
- 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
