An Egyptian Bronze Cat

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

Height 7 9/16 inches (19 cm).

Property from the Collection of Pamela Keld, New York, New York

Provenance:

Private Collection, France, 1950s.

Royal Athena Galleries, New York, 8 November 1993 (Inv. no. SPY01).

Private Collection, New York.

Antiquarium Gallery, New York, 5 March 2014 (Inv. no. ANT5268).

(with invoices & Art Loss Register no. S00084917)

Published:

Antiquarium Ltd., New York, Ancient Treasures, vol. XII (Exhibition Catalogue), 2014, p. 17.

Note:

Depicted here is the Egyptian goddess Bastet in complete feline form. The elegant proportions, detailed face (with remnants of inlaid eyes remaining), wadjet amulet tied about the neck, and excellent state of preservation is extraordinary for a bronze of this scale. While bronze cat statues were ubiquitous throughout the Late Period, often ranging in size and quality, rarely do they capture the splendor of the species as beautifully as this life-sized example. Presumably cast from a royal workshop at Saqqara, this statue compares favorably to similar examples now on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Inv. no.10.130.1332), and The British Museum, London (Inv. no. EA64391).

Intact as preserved. No signs of visual restoration or repair. A very well sculpted example with finely modelled head, the expression focused and alert. Minor loss to tip of proper left ear. Both ears pierced with a single hole. Remnants of inlaid eyes remaining. Rectangular tangs under the front paws and back haunches for mounting to original base. Modern base made of wood. Areas of verdigris and surface wear throughout. Height with base 9 1/4 inches.

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Please email for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

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.

Antiquities & Ethnographic Art

An Egyptian Bronze Cat

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