Lot 537
Egyptian Block Statue, Aswan Granite, Temple Official, Inscribed
Egyptian Block Statue, Aswan Granite, Temple Official, Inscribed
Starting Bid: $7,500
(0 Bids)
Egypt, late period, ca. 700 - 30 BCE. A block statue of a high official — probably a scribe — ancient Egypt, New Kingdom to Late Period, circa 1550–332 BCE. Finely sculpted in speckled Aswan granite — the prestige stone of ancient Egyptian monumental sculpture, quarried at the first Nile cataract and reserved for objects of the highest royal and temple status — the figure is depicted in the canonical block statue posture: kneeling with toes supporting the weight, buttocks resting against a rear pillar, the body drawn into a compact geometric mass on an integral rectangular plinth base. The head is lost to an ancient fracture. Hieroglyphic inscriptions of exceptional quality and depth cover all four surfaces — horizontal registers on the front and sides of the base, and multiple vertical columns on the rear pillar — recording offering formulae, divine invocations, and the name and titles of the owner. The carving of the signs is precise and confident, consistent with a professional royal or temple workshop.
Block statues is a type of memorial statue that first emerged in the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. The block statue grew in popularity in the New Kingdom and the Third Intermediate Period, to the Late Period. These statues were used in temples typically as funerary monuments of non-royal yet important individuals. According to primary sources from the New Kingdom, the posture of the statue was possibly intended to resemble a guardian seated in the gateway of a temple. In addition, their simple shape provided ample flat surfaces for inscriptions of offerings and invocations. A finely polished example of beautiful stone. Size: 11.5”H x 10.75”L x 6”W (29.2 x 27.3 x 15.2cm).
Provenance: NYC collection. Ex. Edward H. Merrin Gallery. Acquired 1980’s from an old European collection.
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Item #
71636
- Condition: Both hands in a forward position originally gripping a stele or figure, which is now missing. Missing the upper portion of the sculpture, above the waist, and to the front. A few ancient base edge chips.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $749 | $25 |
| $750 | $1,499 | $50 |
| $1,500 | $2,999 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $7,499 | $250 |
| $7,500 | $14,999 | $500 |
| $15,000 + | $1,000 |