Lot 15A
Egypt, Romano-Egyptian Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A striking pair of stylized inlaid mummy eyes, these Romano-Egyptian funerary elements once served as symbolic features in the ritual preservation of identity. Each eye is framed by a copper alloy rim, enclosing a pale sclera composed of limestone or alabaster, with irises also in copper alloy and pupils rendered in matte black faience. Their abstracted form follows traditional Egyptian conventions rather than naturalism, with their simplified outlines and bold materials emphasizing eternal presence rather than physical likeness. These components would have been embedded in a wooden coffin or cartonnage mask, perhaps set into a sculpted face to imbue the deceased with the symbolic ability to see into the world beyond. Size (both about the same): 1" W x 2.6" H (2.5 cm x 6.6 cm)
In Egyptian funerary belief, eyes were powerful symbols of vigilance, protection, and spiritual awareness. The inclusion of copper - associated with divine energy and the regenerative force of the sun - and faience - a material connected to rebirth and the renewal of life - affirms the protective and transformative function of these inlays. Though worn by time and burial, the form and symbolism of these eyes remain vivid. They were not crafted to mimic life, but to assert a sacred gaze - watchful, eternal, and ever anchored in the realm of the divine.
Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s; ex-private UK collection; ex-London, UK collection, 1970s
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#195321
- Condition: Weathering with some nicks and chips to surface as shown. Otherwise, intact and very nice with rich patina throughout.
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| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
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| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |