Lot 537
Translated Egyptian Gray Granite Block Statue, ex-Merrin
Translated Egyptian Gray Granite Block Statue, ex-Merrin
Starting Bid: $7,500
(0 Bids)
Egypt, Late Period, ca. 700–30 BCE. A block statue of a high official — probably a scribe — finely sculpted in speckled Aswan granite — the prestige stone of ancient Egyptian monumental sculpture, quarried at the first Nile cataract and reserved for objects of the highest royal and temple status. The figure is depicted in the canonical block statue posture: kneeling with toes supporting the weight, buttocks resting against a rear pillar, the body drawn into a compact geometric mass on an integral rectangular plinth base. The head is lost to an ancient fracture. Hieroglyphic inscriptions of exceptional quality and depth cover all four surfaces — horizontal registers on the front and sides of the base, and multiple vertical columns on the rear pillar — recording offering formulae, divine invocations, and the name and titles of the owner. The carving of the signs is precise and confident, consistent with a professional royal or temple workshop. Size: 11.5"H x 10.75"L x 6"W (29.2 x 27.3 x 15.2 cm)
Inscriptions — Column and Register Translation
Based on visible hieroglyphic content and parallel texts within the published block statue corpus. Owner's name tentative pending specialist confirmation.
Back Pillar, Column 1: Divine invocation — addresses
Amun-Ra, Lord of Heaven on behalf of the statue's owner, establishing the divine patron under whose protection the statue is placed.
Back Pillar, Column 2: Owner identification — the priestly title
hm-ntr ("god's servant") is followed by the epithet "Beloved of Amun" and the owner's name, tentatively read as
Pa-dj-Imn — "Gift of Amun" (Greek
Petamon) — a name form highly characteristic of the Late Period and Ptolemaic era.
Base, Front Register: Offering formula — the standard
htp dj nswt ("an offering which the king gives") invocation, requesting divine provisions for the owner's eternal sustenance.
Base, Side Registers: Titles and epithets — continuing identification of the owner's priestly rank and temple affiliation, standard to block statues placed as votive presences in temple precincts.
Base, Rear Register: Closing benediction —
ankh-djed-was — "all life, stability, and dominion" — the canonical wish for the eternal well-being of the owner, sealing the inscriptional program.
A rare survival of museum quality. The combination of Aswan granite, multi-surface hieroglyphic inscription, and block statue form places this piece firmly in the upper tier of ancient Egyptian private sculpture.
Provenance: NYC collection. Ex. Edward H. Merrin Gallery. Acquired 1980’s from an old European collection.
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Item #
71636
- Condition: Both hands in a forward position originally gripping a stele or figure, which is now missing. Missing the upper portion of the sculpture, above the waist, and to the front. A few ancient base edge chips.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $749 | $25 |
| $750 | $1,499 | $50 |
| $1,500 | $2,999 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $7,499 | $250 |
| $7,500 | $14,999 | $500 |
| $15,000 + | $1,000 |