Egyptian bronze figurine of Khonsu the Child
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Object number
AR3090-D2
| Object: |
Egyptian bronze figurine of Khonsu the Child
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| Material: |
Casted bronze.
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| Period: |
Late Period of Ancient Egypt, 26th to 31st dynasty, 664 BC to 332 BC. |
| Description: |
Egyptian statuette of the god Chons. He is depicted as a child, standing naked and striding forth. One finger raised to the mouth, characteristic sidelock. He wears the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. A suspension loop at the neck enabled wearing the bronze as an amulet.
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| Background: |
The depiction with the finger to the mouth and sidelock is typical for the Egyptian child gods. The term Harpocrates is often used summarily for such gods.
Without further clues, this figure would probably be classified as Horus the Child, one of the most common bronze figures depicted in this style. The deity was worshiped in the region around Alexandria and became famous in the Ptolemaic period. Numerous bronze figures have been preserved in public and private collections and appear regularly on the art market under the term Harpocrates. In this case, however, Karnak has been handed down as the find spot. The attribution as Khonsu, which was handed down as well with the piece, is therefore very plausible. Figures of the ancient Egyptian god of the moon Khonsu (also spelled Khons, Chons or Chonsu) are rare. The representation as a child god is even extremely rare. A bronze figure just like the one discussed here, with certain attribution as Khonsu, was offered on the art market some years ago (see references below). An inscription at the base of that figure identifies it as "Khonsu the Child". |
| Dimensions: |
73mm high (originally approx. 85mm high when the legs and a base were present).
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| Condition: |
Right lower leg, feet and base broken off and missing. Left lower leg and right forearm broken off and reattached. Black patinated surface with some preserved details. There is a hand drawing of the piece by Mr. Charlier, as well as a print-out note reading "Chons, das Kind Sohn des Götterpaares von Karnak, Amun-Re und Mut. Figur mit Doppelkrone, Kinderlocke und Lutschfinger Amulett (Nackenöse) Bronze Spätzeit, ca. 650 vor Chr. Fundort: Karnak/Ägypten" (the German text is giving away Karnak in Egypt as a find spot and attributing the figurine as Khonsu).
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2020 from the German family estate Stollenwerk. Inherited in 2015 from the German private collection of the archaeologist and artist Erich Charlier. He acquired his collection, including this piece, between 1950 and 1980 in Europe. Karnak, near Thebes, in Egypt, was passed down as the find spot of this piece. Mr. Charlier was known for his work as an artist and built a reputation in his home country. He had his studio in Hammer, a village in the Eifel region of Germany. The artist is immortalized in numerous church ornaments in the area. For his artistic work Mr. Charlier received the honorary prize of the municipality of Simmerath, as well as the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1994. Fossils and archaeological objects from his collection were or are on display in an exhibition in Hammer, together with typical hand drawings by Mr. Charlier, which he made for many archaeological pieces in his possession. |
| References: |
For the above mentioned bronze figurine of identical style and with certain attribution to Khonsu see Christie's New York, auction 1584, December 9, 2005, lot 83 (sold for USD 14,400 but for a complete figure with inscribed base).
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| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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