AN EGYPTIAN AGATE WEDJAT-EYE AMULET, NEW KINGDOM, DYNASTY XIX, CIRCA 1279–1212 B.C.

拍品描述

AN EGYPTIAN AGATE WEDJAT-EYE AMULET, NEW KINGDOM, DYNASTY XIX, CIRCA 1279–1212 B.C. Carved from richly banded agate, this finely modelled Wedjat-eye amulet presents a compact yet powerfully graphic silhouette, its crisp outline immediately recognisable as one of the most potent protective emblems of Pharaonic Egypt. The stone’s natural strata shift from deep brick-red through warm ochre and pale translucent bands, creating an arresting play of colour across the surface and lending the piece an almost painterly depth. The front is carved in confident low relief, with the almond-shaped eye defined by a raised rim enclosing the rounded pupil. Above, a gently arched brow is rendered with a leaf-like hatching, while the cosmetic line extends elegantly outward in a long tapering flourish. Below, the characteristic spiral terminal and descending “teardrop” element are clearly articulated, the sculptor exploiting the agate’s banding to heighten contrast between the relief and the ground. The reverse is left plain and smoothly polished, emphasising the thickness and integrity of the stone, while the upper edge is formed with a small projection suitable for suspension. Such amulets were typically strung as personal ornaments, sewn into mummy wrappings, or mounted among protective assemblages, where their material durability and luminous polish would have complemented their ritual purpose. In Egyptian belief, the Wedjat—most commonly associated with the restored eye of Horus—embodied healing, wholeness, and divine safeguarding. By the New Kingdom it had become ubiquitous across social strata, functioning simultaneously as a talisman of bodily protection and a statement of piety, its presence intended to repel harm, restore balance, and ensure the continual well-being of the wearer in life and in the afterlife. A striking example in a desirable hardstone, this amulet unites the timeless clarity of Egyptian sacred design with the natural beauty of banded agate, offering both ornament and enduring apotropaic force. Length: 2.5 cm

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