Description:

Ancient Egypt, Late Period, ca. 712 to 300 BCE. A charming cast bronze shrew atop a sarcophagus made to hold a real mummified shrew as an offering. This depiction is bigger than the actual animal it is based upon! The adult Egyptian pygmy shrew is one of the smallest mammals on earth, weighing just 7 grams, but they are voracious eaters - in fact, the Egyptian word for the animal was "voracious" and they were associated with the solar deity. Thousands of mummified shrews have been found underneath Egyptian temples. Size: 2.6" W x 1.4" H (6.6 cm x 3.6 cm)

See a very similar example at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544116

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#138931

  • Condition: Attractive mottled patina on the surface, with nicely preserved form over much of the piece. One end of the coffin is partially lost.

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September 27, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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