Description:

**Originally Listed At 1000**

Roman controlled Egypt, Late Ptolemaic to Roman Period, ca. 1st Century BCE to 1st Century CE. An intriguing cast bronze sculptural piece, probably from a large Isis Horus figure with the long arm and well-defined hand of Isis grasping the lotus flower with the chubby Harpocrates sitting on top. His right arm bent at the elbow, with his forefinger pointing to his mouth, his left arm holding remains of a cornucopia. Custom stand. Size: 3.25" L x 3.25" H (8.3 cm x 8.3 cm); 4.625" H (11.7 cm) on stand

Harpocrates (Harpokrates) was the god of silence - originally a Greek interpretation of the Egyptian deity Harpa-Khruti (Horus the Child) who was depicted as a boy with his finger held to his lips. This was an Egyptian symbol of childhood that the Greeks understandably mistook for the "hush" gesture of silence. References to Harpocrates appeared in classical literature, including Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 277 (Roman mythographer c. 2nd century CE) and of course Ovid's Metamorphoses as we see in the following passage, "She saw before her bed, or seemed to see as in a dream, great (Egyptian goddess) Isis with her train of holy deities. Upon her brow there stood the crescent moon-horns, garlanded with glittering heads of golden grain, and grace of royal dignity: and at her side . . . (Harpocrates) the god who holds his finger to his lips for silence's sake." (Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.688 ff - trans. Melville - Roman epic ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE)

Provenance: Ex- Paris, France collection.

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#120890

  • Condition: A section, but a strong representation of the adorable Harpocrates sitting on Isis' hand. Lovely green patina.

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June 26, 2017 9:00 AM MDT
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Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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