Pair of Egyptian bronze eyes
€3,250
available
Object number
AR3527
| Object: |
Pair of Egyptian bronze eyes
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| Material: |
Bronze with stone inlays.
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| Period: |
1070 BC to 332 BC, 21st Dynasty to 30th Dynasty, Third Intermediate Period to Late Period of Ancient Egypt. |
| Description: |
A matching pair of eyes and eyebrows. The brows and eye contours are made of solid bronze, extending outward at the corners of the eyes. Each eye has a white stone inlay with a black painted iris. Modern pins are attached to the back. A magnificent and life-size specimen. This pair of eyes was once attached to an anthropomorphic sarcophagus. A popular but rare object in Egyptological collections, sometimes referred to as mummy eyes. |
| Dimensions: |
The eyes are each about 9cm long, the eyebrows about 9.5cm long.
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| Condition: |
The bronze and inlaid eyes are completely preserved. A wonderful overall impression. An intense light green to dark green patina. On the back of each of the four individual pieces, a transparent plastic cylinder and a nail are modernly attached to mount the pair of eyes before a background.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2024 from the German Auer family collection. It was acquired by Dr. Werner and Traute Auer in the 1970s at an exhibition of Ancient Egyptian Art at the Welker art gallery in Heidelberg. The seller was the German art dealer Klaus Kanstinger from Freiburg im Breisgau. A copy of Klaus Kanstinger's guarantee of authenticity is included.
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| References: |
Cf. Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Egyptian Collection, acc. no. INV 597. Cf. Fitzwilliam Museum, acc. no. E.GA.4001.1943. For a comparable piece in the art market, see Christie's London auction of 3 July 2024, lot 31, sold for 10,080 GBP (approximately 11,500 EUR at the time). |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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