Antiquities and Ancient Art

Sale 1343

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May 23 | 11:00 AM EDT

Live

| Chicago

Lot 123

An Egyptian Gneiss Fragment of a Kneeling Figure

Lot 123

An Egyptian Gneiss Fragment of a Kneeling Figure

Status:

Closed

Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000

Estimate$40,000 – $60,000

Status

Closed

An Egyptian Gneiss Fragment of a Kneeling Figure

Late Period, 26th Dynasty, 664-525 B.C.

Height 11 1/2 inches (29.21 cm).

Property from a New York Collection

Provenance:

Eberhard Thiem (1939-2022), Germany.

Edward H. Merrin Gallery, acquired from the above in the 1990s; thence by descent.

This lower half of a naophorous statue emerges from the rich tapestry of ancient Egyptian religious statuary, flourishing during the Late Period. Crafted from gneiss, a stone prized for its durability and aesthetic allure, this fragment speaks to the reverence and importance bestowed upon such representations in ritualistic contexts. Likely originating from Sa el-Hagar, ancient Sais, this fragment embodies not only the customary production of stone figures as eternal offerings to the divine but also holds a profound connection to a city steeped in royal history. Sais, a former royal residence and burial ground for pharaohs during the 26th Dynasty, symbolizes the intersection of spiritual devotion and political power, underscoring the deep significance of this period in Egyptian civilization. A translation of the hieroglyphs is available upon request.

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Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Jacob Coley

Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Antiquities and Ancient Art

[email protected]312 280 1212

Mr. Coley joined the Antiquities department in 2021 after working as Managing Director in the Ancient Art department at Colnaghi, the world’s oldest commercial art gallery, where he helped to establish the Ancient Art department and launched Colnaghi New York in 2017. Prior to Colnaghi, Mr. Coley was in the Greek and Roman Art department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Coley holds a B.A. from the University of Miami and an M.A. in Art Market from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and he earned an art-appraisal certificate from New York University.

Property for this auction is available for pick-up Monday-Friday: 8:30am-3pm at 222 N. Maplewood Ave

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Antiquities and Ancient Art

An Egyptian Gneiss Fragment of a Kneeling Figure

Lot Description

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