Egyptian Bronze Votive Sarcophagus w/ Shrew

**First Time At Auction**

Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A cast-bronze votive sarcophagus of a petite rectangular form with one open end. The sarcophagus is surmounted by a slender shrew with bent legs, a lengthy tail, and a raised head with a tapered snout. The adult Egyptian pygmy shrew is one of the smallest mammals on earth, weighing just 7 grams, but they are voracious eaters - in fact, the Egyptian word for the animal translates to "voracious". They were associated with the solar deity. Thousands of mummified shrews, given as offerings to try to intercede with the gods, have been found underneath Egyptian temples. Size: 1.9" L x 0.75" W x 1.2" H (4.8 cm x 1.9 cm x 3 cm)

Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, acquired around 2012; ex-Relics of the Nile, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

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#151241
Condition Report: Minor nicks to tip of shrew tail, with light encrustations on exterior and interior surfaces, and softening to some details on shrew, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits and great patina throughout.