AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE RELIEF FRAGMENT OF A PHANTOM HOUND, LATE PERIOD, DYNASTY XXVI (SAITE)

Egypt, 664-525 BC. The surface of the limestone is finely carved in low relief to depict a stylized reclining phantom hound, distinguished by its elongated limbs, pointed ears, and almond-shaped eye, wearing a broad collar. The limestone with traces of old pigmentation in cyan and orange hues.

Expert’s note: In ancient Egypt, the so-called phantom hound refers to a jackal or dog-like manifestation associated with the god Anubis, lord of embalming and guardian of the necropolis.
Often depicted as a sleek black canine, Anubis guided souls through the perilous passage to the afterlife and stood watch over tombs to repel malevolent spirits. The “phantom” aspect arises from his liminal nature — a being between worlds, neither fully divine nor mortal, neither visible nor unseen. Statues and reliefs of these hounds were placed near tomb entrances to signal divine protection and to warn intruders of the sacred threshold they approached. In Egyptian thought, the jackal’s nocturnal habits and presence near cemeteries made it a natural emblem of transition, vigilance, and resurrection. Thus, the phantom hound symbolized both death’s mystery and the promise of rebirth, standing as the silent sentinel between life and eternity.

Provenance: Galerie du Sycomore, Paris, France, acquired in the early 1990s. Sycomore Ancient Art, Geneva, Switzerland. A private collection in Marseille, France, acquired from the above in 2013, and thence by descent. The Galerie du Sycomore, founded by Jean-Louis Domercq, opened on the Rue des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1971 and has since amassed over fifty years of experience in the field of antiquities. In 1993, the gallery relocated to Geneva, Switzerland, as Sycomore Ancient Art, specializing in antiquities.
Condition: Good condition overall, commensurate with age, with ancient wear and natural imperfections. Traces of weathering and erosion. Obvious losses and scattered small chips. Few minor nicks and light surface scratches. Remnants of old pigments and small areas with soil encrustation.

Weight: 1,045 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Length 20.6 cm

Mounted on an associated acrylic stand. (2)

The hound carved in this fragment exhibits formal affinities with canid representations documented in the tomb of Karakhamun, an Egyptian priest of the Dynasty XXV under the reign of Shabaqo (c. 700 BC). Notably, it recalls the figure depicted recumbent beneath the chair on the north section of the east wall in the First Pillared Hall, as well as another situated proximal to the subterranean entrance. The tomb of Karakhamun, designated TT223, is located in the Asasif sector of the Theban necropolis and is among the largest tombs excavated in this area, discovered in 1820 on the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor. Although the priestly title of Karakhamun, meaning ‘First Ka Priest’, did not indicate a high-ranking administrative office, the monumental scale and elaborate decorative program of his tomb suggest substantial connections with the royal court or the royal family.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 5 June 2014, lot 30
Price: USD 75,000 or approx. EUR 87,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An Egyptian limestone relief, Ptolemaic period, 304-30 BC
Expert remark: Compare the related pose of the feline and manner of carving in low relief. Note the larger size (48.2 cm).

#expert video ANT1125