Description:

Egypt, Romano-Egyptian Period, ca. 1st century BCE to 2nd century CE. A mold made figure of a seated nude child atop an integral rectangular plinth, holding his enormous phallus with both hands while draping it across both shoulders. The identity of these figures is often ambiguous but often identified as Harpocrates ("Horus the child"), and perhaps symbolize divine birth and the round object in his hands might be the loaf of sacred bread. Harpocrates was the god of silence, secrets, and confidentiality, and the ithyphallic symbols were perceived in the Roman period as good luck charms, specifically for bringing about good fortune and "fertility." Size: 3.5" L x 3" W x 5" H (8.9 cm x 7.6 cm x 12.7 cm)

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private Long Island, New York, USA collection; ex-private New York City, New York, USA collection, purportedly brought to the US prior to 1950, and bequeathed to family by descent

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#174684

  • Condition: Softening to finer details but figure is discernable. Old losses to base and chips and abrasions to high pointed areas. Light mineral and earthen deposits throughout.

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December 22, 2022 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