banner-onlineshop

Large canopic jar lid with Imsety

Price: on request
Sold
Object number
AR3285
Object: Egyptian lid of a canopic jar in the shape of a human head

Material: Alabaster.

Period: Late Period of Ancient Egypt,
26th to 31st dynasty,
664 BC to 332 BC.

Description:    Large lid of a canopic jar. The upper part has the shape of a human head with a wig. The eyes, brows and mouth are highlighted with engravings and black paint. It is the representation of the Horus son Imsety in human form. The lower part of the lid is designed as a stopper that once closed the canopic jar with a perfect fit.
The lid is impressive due to its massive size, as well as its high-quality craftsmanship.

Background: In ancient Egyptian mythology, the god Horus had four sons with Isis - Imsety, Duamutef, Hapi and Qebehsenuef. They are best known as the protectors of the organs taken from the mummy. Every lover of Egyptian art knows the so-called canopic jars. These are sets of four vessels whose lids are decorated with the heads of the Horus children.
The Imsety lid offered here had certainly a protective function. Together with its siblings it protected and accompanied the deceased. The protective god Imsety was responsible for the liver.

Dimensions: 12.6cm height. 14.8cm diameter.

Condition: Lid in very good condition. A few chips on the lower edge and smaller chips on the face, which do not disturb the imposing overall impression. Attractive calcite crystals on the surface.

Provenance: Acquired by us in 2022 from Thorsden Schloessner, Germany. Acquired by him in 2021 from the German Kleukens family estate. Taken into the family collection by the well-known artist Friedrich Wilhelm Kleukens. He received the piece in 1913 as a gift from the then director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. In the years 1930 to 1936 the canopic lid was probably in Spain, at the family residence on Mallorca. The lid was then in Germany throughout.

References: Cf. Science Museum London, Objektnr. A635039 und A634862.

Literature: A. Dodson, The Canopic Equipment of the Kings of Egypt (1994).

Authenticity: We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.