Lot 58B
Egypt, Middle Kingdom, 11th to 12th Dynasty, ca. 2040 to 1782 BCE. Behold an exceptionally rare bronze dagger whose triangular, double-edged blade hums with ancient power, its surface defined by a prominent raised mid rib that gives strength and visual authority to its tapering form. At the shoulder, the metal transforms into a living symbol - perhaps the sacred cow-goddess Hathor or a potent bull - eyes wide and watching, horns gently curving, surfaces dotted with ritual punctuations. The vanished hilt, once fashioned of wood or other living matter, remains only in memory - a ghost of organic craft now lost to centuries. A small perforation at the base hints at how it was once bound, sealing function and form together. Size: 14.5" L x 2.1" W (36.8 cm x 5.3 cm)
This dagger stands nearly alone in the known corpus of Middle Kingdom blades. Bronze arms of the era occasionally survive, but almost none bear bovine iconography so vivid or deliberate. Hathor, in her cow aspect, embodied maternal grace, music, love, and renewal. The bull was the very essence of potency and authority. To hold this dagger would be to hold both cosmic blessing and earthly force in the palm. Its design finds echoes in the ceremonial dagger of King Ahmose I, underscoring its extraordinary rarity and significance.
This artifact is not just a weapon but a cultic charm, forged at the nexus of artistry, ritual, and power. Its verdant patina whispers of long burial and ancient reverence, while its design suggests ownership by a figure of high stature - perhaps a priest-warrior or noble ruler. Its rarity cannot be overstated. It is virtually without parallel in both private troves and public institutions, a solitary echo of its kind and time. More than a relic, this dagger is a miracle of survival - an eloquent testament to the creative genius and sacred imagination of Middle Kingdom Egypt.
For a comparable example, please see the ceremonial dagger of Ahmose I in the Egyptian Museum Cairo, number JE 4666.
Provenance: ex-M. Ebnoether collection, Switzerland, 1970s
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#196868
- Condition: The grip of this dagger was likely made of wood or another organic material and thus did not survive. Cleaned in modern times and repatinated in areas. Some nicks and pitting as well as small chips to blade edge, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent presentation with nice remaining detail.
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