Description:

Egyptian, Ptolemaic to Romano-Egyptian period, ca. 4th century BCE to 4th century CE. A remarkable and quite rare faience figure of a female depicted standing nude and holding a child to her breast - perhaps intended as a fertility figure or the Egyptian goddess Isis. Enveloped in lustrous blue glaze, the female stands with legs together, echoing the mummiform pose of an ushabti, yet her hands reach for her breast and genitalia in the Classical seductive stance of Venus pudica. A petite child is seated in the crook of her left arm, mimicking Egyptian images of Isis who is frequently shown suckling her son Harpocrates (Horus the Child). Black pigment delineates her shoulder-length coiffure as well as the hair of her child and dotted and striated decoration that adorns her clavicle and breast. Size: 1.5" W x 4.5" H (3.8 cm x 11.4 cm)

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report will accompany the item upon purchase.

Provenance: private Danvers, Massachusetts, USA collection, acquired by descent; ex-USA collection, acquired before 2000

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#179243

  • Condition: Expected surface wear with nicks and abrasions commensurate with age, but otherwise intact and in nice condition with liberal remaining detail, ample preservation of pigments, and rich patina. TL holes to underside of heels and verso of neck beneath hair.

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July 21, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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