Egyptian Limestone Relief, Deity Head w/ Uraeus
Egypt, Late Dynastic to Roman period, ca. 664 BCE – 200 CE. A fragment of carved limestone preserving, at lower left, the profile head of a deity in low relief, the brow crowned by a rearing uraeus and surmounted by a floral element read as a lotus or papyrus umbel. The face turns to the viewer's right, jaw firm, the striated wig or headcloth falling behind. To the right rises a raised rectangular panel bearing worn hieroglyphic signs within a recessed field, framed by a plain border and a raised fillet that once ran along the upper edge of the block. The uraeus marks divine or royal status, protective and solar in force, while the plant crown is the attribute of several deities, Nefertem foremost among them. Likely from a temple or tomb wall, or from a stela whose remaining surfaces carried further text. Size: 2.54" H x 2.66" W x 0.6" D (6.5 cm H x 6.8 cm W x 1.5 cm D).
The uraeus, the reared cobra of the goddess Wadjet, sat on the brow of kings and gods alike as a spitting guardian, its venom conceived as fire that burned the enemies of order. Paired with a floral crown it most often signals Nefertem, the god born of the blue lotus that opened on the primordial waters at dawn, a deity of perfume, healing, and the daily renewal of the sun. The identification is not certain here: several goddesses, notably Hathor and Isis in their Late and Ptolemaic guises, also wear plant and solar attributes above a uraeus, and the eroded crown does not preserve enough of its profile to settle the question.
Relief of this scale and finish, worked in soft local limestone with a recessed text field, is typical of small votive stelae and of the decorated wall blocks of provincial temples and chapels. Egyptian sculptors continued the pharaonic repertoire with remarkable fidelity through the Ptolemaic and Roman centuries, which is precisely why fragments detached from their architectural context resist tight dating on style alone.
Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired between 1990 to 2005
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #204800
Condition
Fragment as shown with chips and abrasions commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with good remainign detail.
Egypt, Late Dynastic to Roman period, ca. 664 BCE – 200 CE. A fragment of carved limestone preserving, at lower left, the profile head of a deity in low relief, the brow crowned by a rearing uraeus and surmounted by a floral element read as a lotus or papyrus umbel. The face turns to the viewer's right, jaw firm, the striated wig or headcloth falling behind. To the right rises a raised rectangular panel bearing worn hieroglyphic signs within a recessed field, framed by a plain border and a raised fillet that once ran along the upper edge of the block. The uraeus marks divine or royal status, protective and solar in force, while the plant crown is the attribute of several deities, Nefertem foremost among them. Likely from a temple or tomb wall, or from a stela whose remaining surfaces carried further text. Size: 2.54" H x 2.66" W x 0.6" D (6.5 cm H x 6.8 cm W x 1.5 cm D).
The uraeus, the reared cobra of the goddess Wadjet, sat on the brow of kings and gods alike as a spitting guardian, its venom conceived as fire that burned the enemies of order. Paired with a floral crown it most often signals Nefertem, the god born of the blue lotus that opened on the primordial waters at dawn, a deity of perfume, healing, and the daily renewal of the sun. The identification is not certain here: several goddesses, notably Hathor and Isis in their Late and Ptolemaic guises, also wear plant and solar attributes above a uraeus, and the eroded crown does not preserve enough of its profile to settle the question.
Relief of this scale and finish, worked in soft local limestone with a recessed text field, is typical of small votive stelae and of the decorated wall blocks of provincial temples and chapels. Egyptian sculptors continued the pharaonic repertoire with remarkable fidelity through the Ptolemaic and Roman centuries, which is precisely why fragments detached from their architectural context resist tight dating on style alone.
Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired between 1990 to 2005
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #204800
Condition
Fragment as shown with chips and abrasions commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with good remainign detail.
