A TURQUOISE FAIENCE AMULET OF THOTH, LATE PERIOD

拍品描述

A TURQUOISE FAIENCE AMULET OF THOTH, LATE PERIOD This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve Egypt, 664-332 BC. Skillfully modelled, the anthropomorphic figure depicted striding forward with the left leg advanced upon a rectangular base, the arms hang straight at the sides, while clad in a simple loincloth, crossed and secured around the waist, leaving the torso exposed. The carefully defined avian head characterized by a prominent curved beak and long locks of hair falling over the shoulders. A vertical support projects from the back and is pierced with a small circular perforation intended for suspension. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Height 3.4 cm Thoth is mostly associated with two animals, the ibis and the baboon. This example depicts the deity in human form with the head of the latter. While his association with the ibis is primarily linked to writing and knowledge, due to the perceived majesty of the bird and its connection with order and observation, his association with the baboon relates to time and the observation of the sky. Thoth was also credited with healing powers, which contributed to the popularity of his image on mummy amulets. This protective function may likewise be linked to his role in the afterlife, where he served as the divine scribe who recorded the outcome of the final judgment, determining whether the deceased had led a virtuous life and was worthy of entering the hereafter. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related faience Thoth amulet, dated Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 3.4 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 96.21.1. Compare a closely related faience Thoth amulet, dated Late Period, 5.1 cm high, in the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, inventory number INV 1170. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams London, 23 October 2012, lot 323 Price: GBP 2,375 or approx. EUR 4,100 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and modeling. Note the similar size (4.2 cm).

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