† AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE BRONZE OF A PANTHEISTIC DEITY, PTOLEMAIC PERIOD
Lot 7 - ANT1125

Expert’s Note: This remarkable figure unites attributes of several major Egyptian deities: The jackal body clearly recalls Anubis, while the falcon head and avian talons derive from Horus. The conical crown may allude to Osiris in his solar or funerary aspects. The incised wings on the back possibly evoke Isis or Horus in his protective form. Most striking is the elongated phallus curling backward, a feature strongly associated with Min, the god of fertility.
By merging all these attributes, the statue embodies multiple divine powers in a single form, a classic and important aspect of divine imagery in the Ptolemaic period.

Egypt, 332-30 BC. Boldly cast with the body of a jackal and the head of a falcon, the figure is shown seated on its haunches, avian talons gripping a double-armed plinth with rounded ends. It wears a broad collar above a finely engraved apron and a wide sash enveloping the upper body and the long, slender legs. An elaborate headcloth falls in lappets over the shoulders and is surmounted by a conical crown. The back is incised with fur textures and wings, while the elongated phallus curls backward over the right hindquarter to rest upon the buttocks, indicating its original function as a handle on an important piece of furniture or vessel.

Provenance: The Zakaria Collection in Los Angeles, United States, acquired in the 1960s. Christie’s New York, 9 December 2005, lot 79 (sold for USD 12,000 or approx. EUR 17,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). A private collection in the Midwest, United States, acquired from the above and thence by descent.
Condition: Good condition with ancient wear and traces of use, commensurate with age. Remnants of wax seal to the underside. Small dents, nicks, and losses. Possibly with minuscule old repairs, and associated touchups. Overall with an exceptionally fine, naturally grown patina.

Weight: 512 g
Dimensions: Height 14 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare a related bronze figure of Bastet with similar incision work, dated to 664-30 BC, Late period-Ptolemaic period, 11.7 cm (high), in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 34.6.1.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s London, 6 December 2016, lot 150
Price: GBP 179,000 or approx. EUR 312,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An Egyptian bronze pantheistic deity, Ptolemaic period, circa 332-30 B.C.
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, coloration, subject and dating. Note the slightly larger size (18.4 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 8 June 2004, lot 556
Price: USD 21,510 or approx. EUR 31,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An Egyptian bronze Anubis, Late period, dynasty XXVI-XXX, 664-343 B.C.
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, and jackal body. Note the earlier dating, and slightly larger size (17.2 cm).

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