A TURQUOISE-GLAZED FAIENCE AMULET OF THE ENTHRONED SEKHMET, LATE PERIOD, DYNASTY XXVI (SAITE)
Lot 55 - ANT1125

Published: Charles Ede Limited, Egyptian Antiquities, 2013, no. 19.

Egypt, 664-525 BC. Well-modeled, the lion-headed goddess sitting hieratically upon a throne, the sides neatly incised with a crisscross pattern, on a rectangular base. Her elongated forearms resting upon her thighs, while the head crowned with a royal wig, from which pointed ears emerge, surmounted by a serpent and fitted with a suspension loop.

Provenance: A private collection in New York, United States. Charles Ede Limited, by 2013. A collector, acquired from the above. With an old collector’s label affixed to the base, inscribed ‘9282’. Charles Ede Ltd., founded in 1971 by Charles Richard Montague Ede (1921–2002), is recognized as one of the world’s leading dealers in ancient art, specializing in works from Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire, as well as early European art before c. 1000 AD. After early ventures in publishing and the arts, Ede turned his attention to antiquities, establishing the firm that now enjoys an international reputation and a prominent presence at major art fairs worldwide.
Condition: Good condition with ancient wear and firing irregularities. Few minor losses to the back of the throne, left ear of the deity, and the suspension hole. Light surface scratches and minute chips here and there. Small areas with soil encrustation.

Weight: 23.7 g
Dimensions: Height 6.3 cm

Sekhmet occupies a central position within the Egyptian pantheon as a warrior goddess, a deity of medicine, and a solar divinity. As the eldest daughter of the sun god Ra, she often embodies his retributive power and carries out divine punishment. She is typically depicted seated on a throne, a portrayal that emphasizes divine authority and dominion over the world, reflecting her ability to maintain order and safeguard Egypt. The prominently raised serpent, or uraeus, on her headdress represents Uadjet, the protective cobra goddess of Lower Egypt, and signifies her royal authority and vigilant oversight. In Egyptian belief, amulets depicting Sekhmet were thought to evoke her power and confer protection upon the wearer.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related glazed faience amulet of a lion-headed Bastet, Egypt, Third Intermediate period, dated 872-664 BC, 6.8 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 26.7.868. Compare a related glazed faience amulet of a goddess with feline head, Egypt, Late period, dated 664-30 BC, 4.4 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 74.51.4493. Compare a related blue-glazed faience amulet of Sekhmet, Egypt, Third Intermediate period, dated c. 1085-715 BC, 6.3 cm high, illustrated in Gerry D. Scott, Temple, Tomb, and Dwelling. Egyptian Antiquites from the Harer Family Trust Collection, 1992, p. 113, no. 67.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 11 December 2003, lot 351
Price: USD 3,107 or approx. EUR 5,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An Egyptian faience Sekhmet amulet, Third Intermediate period, dynasty XXI-XXII, 1070-712 BC
Expert remark: Compare the related subject and manner of modeling. Note the smaller size (5.1 cm) and the obvious glaze flaking.