Superb Egyptian Late Dynastic Faience Ushabti

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Exceptional Ancient, Ethnographic, & Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Mar 9, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-03-09 10:00:00 2023-03-09 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Ancient, Ethnographic, & Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-ancient-ethnographic-fine-art-12354
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• Lot Description
  **First Time At Auction**
  
  Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A mold-formed faience ushabti with regal figural details and relatively visible hieroglyphs all enveloped in green-blue glaze. The figure stands in mummiform with fused legs atop an integral rectangular plinth, crossed hands upon the chest while grasping the symbolic pick and hoe, and has a small, incised seed bag behind the left shoulder. Inscribed across the front of the figure, from the waist down, are hieroglyphs, and although untranslated, the text would mention the name of the deceased as well as provide an invocation from Chapter 6 of the Egyptian Book of the Dead (or Book of Going Forth by Day). The narrow head boasts almond-shaped eyes beneath thick brows, a broad nose, full lips above a plaited false beard, and cupped ears, all beneath a tripartite wig. Size: 5.7" H (14.5 cm)
  
  Ushabti dolls are figures shaped like adult male or female mummies wearing traditional ancient Egyptian headdresses. The ancient Egyptians believed that after they died, their spirits would have to work in the "Field of Reeds" owned by the god of the underworld, Osiris. This meant doing agricultural labor - and it was required by all members of society, from workers to pharaohs. The wealthier nobility in Egyptian society were able to have shabtis made of faience; blue faience was meant to reflect the color of the river Nile both on earth and in the afterlife.
  
  Please note that this piece is a dropship item, meaning that it will be shipping from the consignor’s location. All information regarding condition, size, stone identification, and metal content have been provided by the consignor. 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.
  
  Provenance: Private West Hollywood, California, USA collection; ex-private Florida, USA collection, acquired in the 1980s; ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA collection
  
  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.
  
  #177334

  Condition

  Small chip to the front integral base corner, as shown in pictures, chip to the bottom of the false beard, old wear to the face, discoloration from firing, and some scratches to the back, but overall in good condition.
• Shipping Info

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