Ptah-Sokar-Osiris statuette for Ta-scherit-Mehjt
€14,000
available
Object number
AR3109
| Object: |
Egyptian statuette of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris for Ta-scherit-Mehjt
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| Material: |
Wood with polychrome painting.
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| Period: |
Ptolemaic period of Ancient Egypt, 332 BC to 30 BC. |
| Description: |
Egyptian wooden statuette of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris on a cubic wooden base. Mummiform body with summarily modeled arms and legs. Head with tripartite wig. Finely worked face with detailed facial features. At the back of the head an opening which once held a crown on the head (now missing). The pin beneath the feet can be inserted into the corresponding opening in the base. The figure and the base still have the original painting, which is almost completely preserved. The statuette is decorated with a wide painted collar. The wig is black and the face has a gold gilt with details painted in black. On the back is a tall column with hieroglyphic inscription on a yellow background. The base is decorated with a geometric pattern in red, black, white and blue. The inscription has not been preserved in its entirety, but the Egyptologist Prof. Dr. Kurth commented and translated the legible part as follows, "Hail to you, heir of Onnophris (=Osiris) [...] this [...] this great lotus flower [...] Ta-scherit-Mehjt, justified (blessed)". Ptah-Sokar-Osiris is called by his other name, heir of Onnophris (see Leitz, LGG I, 172 b; III, 177 a). This opening phrase has been common since the New Kingdom and is typically followed by a request for sacrificial food for the deceased. The name of the deceased, Ta-scherit-Mehjt, is attested in Ranke, Personalnamen I, 360, 16; 369, 4; Thirion, in: RdE 36, 126. Overall, an impressive example in terms of size, condition and painting. |
| Dimensions: |
Total height 60.5 cm. Once the ensemble with a crown (now absent) was even higher. Figure only: 52.6 cm tall without pin, 55.6 cm tall with pin. Approx. 9.5cm wide. The base only: 32.3 cm long, 11.4 cm wide, 8.0 cm high.
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| Condition: |
Great condition The wood of the figure is in very good condition, complete and intact apart from minor defects. The original stucco cover with multi-colored painting (darkened) is largely preserved. At the back of the head and on top of the head there are holes for attaching the crown (now missing). There is a piece of linen in the large rectangular frame at the back of the head, presumably originally belonging. The base is also preserved and in very good condition. Flaws on the edges do not spoil the overall impression. Stucco and painting (darkened) are largely preserved. A hole at the top for the pin of the figure (no longer a perfect fit, fixed by the previous owner with folded paper so that the figure stands securely). Two small holes on the underside for mounting the ensemble with pins or dowels. |
| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in a French auction house in 2020. Exported with French export certificate. Previously in the posession of a French art dealer. Acquired from a French private collection. The piece came into the collection in 1958 from the Robert Duperrier gallery in Paris. His receipt and description from March 22nd 1958 is available in copy. This object has been searched for in the database of Art Loss, comprising more than 500.000 objects claimed stolen or lost. It also integrates the databases of Interpol and FBI. An Art Loss certificate comes with this artefact. |
| References: |
Cf. Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Ägyptische Sammlung, inventory no. INV 980. Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, inventory no. 21.9.1a–c. Cf. Das Ägyptische Museum Berlin (Mainz, 1991), p. 222 (135, right). |
| Literature: |
Lexikon der Ägyptologie V, p. 1060 f. Leitz 2002, III, p. 176 f. Lexikon der Ägyptologie V, p. 1061. Graindorge 1992 / 1999, p. 324 f. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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