Lot 4
Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th Dynasty, ca. 664 to 525 BCE. A wonderfully preserved example of a small model of a coffin, made from two pieces of wood, adorned with gesso over cloth, then painted. The coffin has a slot as part of its feet that is a third piece of wood, and probably indicates that it was meant to be displayed standing up, as in the Ptah-Soker-Osiris tradition. Size: 4.6" L x 4" W x 16.75" H (11.7 cm x 10.2 cm x 42.5 cm)
The back of the coffin is painted with a series of hieroglyphs, though few are still legible. Their mirror image positions indicate that this was meant to be read right-to-left, and clearly we can see three "E"s at the top, and the symbol for stairs a few lines down. Many of the other hieroglyphs seem to have been deliberately destroyed - the animal ones, in particular - a sad but unfortunately prevalent practice for objects placed in burial chambers. Based on a similar example in the British Museum, these hieroglyphs represented some kind of spells for protection in the afterlife. On the other side is a better-preserved painting showing a mummiform body; the paint has faded to pale pink, blue, and cream, with black details including a goatee and crown. The facial details are well-painted and wonderfully Egyptian, with huge eyes and dark, large eyebrows. The interior of the coffin is empty; the hollowed-out chamber is only in the upper body, with the legs not cut out. This chamber would once have contained a model of a human figure, perhaps made of wax or mud. One suggestion for their purpose is that they were meant as replacements where a real body had been lost, perhaps in a fire or flood.
Provenance: Ex-Hagar Collection, Ex-private NC collection acquired in the 1980's
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#119285
- Condition: Age wear, especially to the underside, with some losses to the wood along the connecting edges. Losses to the gesso and cracks to the paint/plaster are also present. Much artwork remains.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |