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THBRomano-Egyptian Silver Harpokrates, ex-Bonham's
Lot 3c
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
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
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$5,000 - $7,500
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Jun 29, 2023
Set Reminder
2023-06-29 10:00:00
2023-06-29 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Ethnographic and Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-and-fine-art-13031
Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (339)
- Lot Description
Egypt, Roman Period, ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE. An impressive silver figure of Harpokrates (also Harpocrates), the Ptolemaic god of silence, secrets, and confidentiality, shown holding his right index finger to his lips. Nude save for a panther skin draping his left shoulder and a crested headdress, the youthful deity stands contrapposto, leaning upon a staff and grasping a cornucopia in his left arm. Son of Isis and Osiris, Harpokrates was the Egyptian child god Horus, who avenged his father's death through several battles with Seth, the legendary god of Chaos. He represented the newborn sun, rising each day at dawn and was depicted as a nude boy with his finger to his mouth, as realization of the hieroglyph for "child," as seen in this example. Misunderstanding this gesture, the later Greeks and Roman poets made Harpocrates the god of silence and secrecy. Size: 1" W x 2.6" H (2.5 cm x 6.6 cm); 3.3" H (8.4 cm) on included custom stand; silver quality: 85.5%; weight: 40.7 grams
References to Harpocrates appeared in classical literature, including Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 277 (Roman mythographer c. 2nd century CE) and of course Ovid's Metamorphoses as we see in the following passage, "She saw before her bed, or seemed to see as in a dream, great (Egyptian goddess) Isis with her train of holy deities. Upon her brow there stood the crescent moon-horns, garlanded with glittering heads of golden grain, and grace of royal dignity: and at her side . . . (Harpocrates) the god who holds his finger to his lips for silence's sake." (Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.688 ff - trans. Melville - Roman epic ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE)
Published: J. Eisenberg, "Art of the Ancient World," vol. XXV (2014), no. 196.
Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York City, New York, USA; ex-Bonham's London, UK, October 2003
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.
#179527Expected weathering and abrasions to surface as shown, but otherwise intact and very nice with liberal remaining detail and light patina throughout.Condition
- Shipping Info
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