Description:

Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, ca. 1550 to 1292 BCE. A rare set of 2 hand-carved wooden female musician figures, each standing atop an integral rectangular plinth and covered with yellow, brown, white, and black pigment. Each woman presents with a nude upper body and light brown skirt around her waist, extending their arms out to show a petite cymbal or castanet held in each hand; idiophones like these were struck with a small mallet or clicked together to create percussive rhythms. Black pigment accentuates the coiffures, eyes, and armbands of each figure while white pigment creates the sclerae of their eyes. Size of largest: 4.7" L x 2" W x 12.75" H (11.9 cm x 5.1 cm x 32.4 cm); 13.9" H (35.3 cm) on included custom stand.

The taller piece has been tested using radiocarbon dating (C-14) analysis by the University of Georgia and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.

Provenance: private Raleigh, North Carolina, USA collection, acquired from BC Galleries, Australia, April 18, 2000; ex-RAS McAlister (1870-1950) collection, Ireland

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#182413

  • Provenance: private Raleigh, North Carolina, USA collection, acquired from BC Galleries, Australia, April 18, 2000; ex-RAS McAlister (1870-1950) collection, Ireland
  • Condition: Shorter figure has repairs to arms and 1 hand, with losses to one shoulder as shown. Taller figure has arms reattached at shoulders and chips around plinth. Both figures with abrasions, light earthen deposits, fading to pigment, and softening to some carved features, otherwise in great condition. Wonderful preservation to figural form and musical pose.

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January 18, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000