Rare Romano-Egyptian Leaded Bronze Bes Figure

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Fine Antiquities | Ethnographica | Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

May 19, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-05-19 10:00:00 2022-05-19 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Ethnographica | Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographica-fine-art-9350
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• Lot Description
  Egypt, Romano-Egyptian Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A striking example of a cast-leaded-bronze figure depicting Bes, the dwarf deity who watches over the household, particularly the women and children of the house, protecting them with the magical sign "sa." Covered in smooth layers of green patina, Bes presents with his characteristic bandy-legged pose while he throws back both shoulders and holds both hands to his waist. His squat face features thick brows above petite eyes, a protruding nose, a thick mustache and beard, and parted lips, all beneath a shoulder-length coiffure and his signature feathered crown. The rarity of this figure comes from his other embellishments - a lion-skin pelt with forepaws draped over his shoulders, back paws tied around his waist as a belt, and its tail draped behind his right calf muscle, as well as a snake coiling around his left forearm, its head held in his hand. Size: 1.1" W x 2.7" H (2.8 cm x 6.9 cm); 5.1" H (13 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Both the lion pelt and the snake allude to the great Classical hero Hercules (Greek Herakles). The lion pelt is symbolic of Bes' characteristic leonine features such as his intimidating guise, his mane-like beard, and his ferocious disposition, not to mention the pelt he is typically shown wearing in later dynastic periods. In fact, Bes was known in earlier dynastic periods as Aha-Bes, a dwarf deity with much more pronounced leonine features. The inclusion of the snake recalls in ancient Greek mythology how Hera (Roman Juno), Hercules' mother, attempted to kill Hercules in his cradle with a pair of serpents after discovering how Zeus' (Roman Jupiter) infidelity with the mortal Alcmene (Roman Alcmena), his great-granddaughter, had results in an illegitimate child. However, the infant Hercules strangled both serpents with his mythological strength. This serpentine syncretization likely alludes to Bes' role as a protector of young children and how his strength - like Hercules - enables him to perform his task with ease.
  
  Cf. Il Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco, inventory number MB 60; Cf. a figure of Aha-Bes at the Liverpool University Institute of Archaeology, accession number 1977.110.2
  
  Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries; ex-Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany, June 2016; ex-D.M. collection, London, England, acquired 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.
  
  #171577

  Condition

  Possible repair and restoration to verso of shoulders to middle of back, but expertly executed and nearly entirely invisible if present. Minor abrasions and encrustations, with some small casting flaws behind legs, and minor softening to finer details, otherwise in excellent condition. Wonderful patina throughout. Figure drilled through bottom of each foot for mounting and display purposes. Old inventory label beneath base of display stand.
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