Very Fine Egyptian Bronze Striding Harpokrates

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Ancient | Ethnographic | Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

Jul 5, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-07-05 10:00:00 2018-07-05 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient | Ethnographic | Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-fine-art-3306
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• Lot Description
  Ancient Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A beautiful cast-bronze figurine depicting the child god Harpokrates (from the Egyptian Her-pa-khered, literally "Horus the child"). He stands in a striding pose, nude atop an integral rectangular plinth with a base peg, his right index finger extended to his mouth and left arm draped at his side. Almond eyes, a petite nose, ovoid eyes, and a curled, separately-cast sidelock of hair define his elegant visage. He wears a large double-crown with a frontal uraeus atop his head, symbolically representing the unification of both Upper and Lower Egypt. The figure bears fabulous areas of russet and green-hued patina with some miniscule spots of golden bronze shining through. Custom wooden display stand included. Size: 1.625" L x 1.2" W x 4.875" H (4.1 cm x 3 cm x 12.4 cm); 5.375" H (13.7 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Harpokrates (also Harpocrates) was, in many ways, one of the most popular deities in the Egyptian pantheon for centuries on end. The offspring of Osiris and Isis, Harpokrates was originally thought to be a protective deity, warding dangerous magic and creatures away from the wielder of his effigy. His depiction as a child was a common sight in ancient Egypt as infantile gods were favored to their adult characterizations from roughly the Third Intermediate Period on into Greco-Roman times. Created mostly as temple votives, child gods were thought to have a higher concentration of power and influence, thus making for a stronger prayer request when left as an offering.
  
  References to Harpokrates 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).
  
  Provenance: private Davis collection, Houston, Texas, USA; ex-Bonham's London Antiquities Auction, 8 May, 2013, lot 348; ex-Mr. Elias-Vaes collection, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, collected between the 1960s and 1970s
  
  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.
  
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  #132856

  Condition

  Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, small nicks to plinth, legs, body, arms, and head, fading to some facial features, and light discoloration, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits within recessed areas, and lovely russet and green patina throughout.
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