Lot 7
Ancient Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A petite, green-glazed faience amulet depicting Sekhmet (occasionally Sakhmet, literally "the powerful one"), the lioness-headed goddess of war, healing, and the sun. The leonine deity presents seated upon a throne, with hands placed atop her lap, and wearing an ankle-length sheath dress. A crown consisting of 4 ostrich feathers, Hathoric horns, and a sun disc - known as the "Four Feathers Crown" - rises above her protruding countenance. Her name comes from the Egyptian word "Sekhem" which translates to "power" or "might" - indeed Sekhmet is sometimes translated as "Powerful One" or "She who is Powerful." Sekhmet is also mentioned in several spells of The Book of the Dead, discussed as both a creative and a destructive force, but above all, the guardian of Ma'at (balance or justice) who defies evil. Size: 0.84" L x 0.45" W x 1.75" H (2.1 cm x 1.1 cm x 4.4 cm); 2.52" H (6.4 cm) on included custom stand.
Sekhmet (also Sakhmet), among the oldest deities in the Egyptian pantheon, is typically depicted as a lion-headed woman and sometimes wearing a sun disc on her head. When shown sitting, she usually holds an ankh of life or a rattle-like instrument known as a sistrum - this example shows her not holding anything; when standing, she wields a sceptre formed from papyrus, the symbol of Lower Egypt, the area with which she is most often associated.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA; ex-Philip Mitry collection, noted antiquarian in Egypt, prior to 1951
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#180926
- Condition: Repaired from 3 pieces with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Loss to tip of one ostrich feather, with expected abrasions and pitting, light fading to glaze pigment, and softening to some finer details, otherwise in great condition. Nice preservation to overall form, and great remains of glaze throughout. Figure is adhered to display stand and cannot be removed.
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