AN EGYPTIAN BLUE FAIENCE ‘WEDJAT EYE’ RING, NEW KINGDOM, DYNASTY XVIII

拍品描述

AN EGYPTIAN BLUE FAIENCE ‘WEDJAT EYE’ RING, NEW KINGDOM, DYNASTY XVIII This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2005: “No. 52, HH, 18th dyn. udjat eye ring” Gallery price: EUR 300 or approx. EUR 500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing. Egypt, 1550-1292 BC. Of typical circular form, the top modeled as the Eye of Horus. The surface is entirely covered by a subtle glaze of an appealing blue hue, evocative of lapis lazuli. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Length 2.6 cm The wedjat eye was among the most popular and significant amulets in ancient Egypt. It represents the restored eye of the god Horus and combines human and falcon features, reflecting the close association of this deity with the falcon. The ancient Egyptian term ‘wedjat’, also written in some sources as ‘udjat’, may be translated as ‘the sound one’ or ‘the whole one’. According to Egyptian mythology, the eye of Horus was damaged or taken by Seth during a divine conflict and was subsequently restored by Thoth. For this reason, the wedjat became a potent symbol of healing, wholeness, regeneration, and rebirth, and amulets in this form were believed to provide protection and to transmit regenerative powers. They were widely used in both daily life and funerary contexts, serving the needs of the living as well as those of the deceased. Faience rings were mass-produced during the 18th Dynasty, and their widespread use reflects the importance of faience as an affordable yet symbolically charged material in New Kingdom Egypt. Manufactured using mold-made techniques that allowed for efficient large-scale production, these rings provided accessible personal adornment for a broad segment of society while also embodying the aesthetic and cultural values associated with more costly materials such as turquoise or lapis lazuli. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wedjat eye ring, dated New Kingdom, late Dynasty 18, 2.2 cm diameter, in the Art Institute of Chicago, reference number X85. Compare a related blue faience ring with a figure of a fish, 1.9 cm, dated New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, in the Art Institute of Chicago, reference number X81.

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