Egypto-Phoenician Frit Amulet - Bes / Dwarf Diety

Egypt, Egypto-Phoenician, Late Period, ca. 715 to 500 BCE. An intriguing Egypto-Phoenician frit figure depicting Bes, the Egyptian dwarf deity who was a protector of the women and children of a household. Bes is perceived as fearsome, and his grotesque face was supposed to ward off all dangerous creatures. This example of Bes depicts him as a full-fledged figure standing upon parted legs with a phallus hanging between. Bes displays his portly belly beneath flush pectoral muscles, with lengthy arms draped to his hips, and his shaggy, mane-like beard resting gently atop his broad shoulders. His stylized visage bears protruding, beady eyes, a slightly upturned nose above parted lips, a petite tongue peeking out of his mouth, and a pair of flared ears, all beneath an incised, backswept coiffure. Remains of soft blue glaze are visible across the entire composition and imbue it with a whimsical presentation. Size: 1.5" W x 2.375" H (3.8 cm x 6 cm); 4.8" H (12.2 cm) on included custom stand.

Another Egypto-Phoenician example carved from granite hammered for $5,175 at Christie's, New York, Park Avenue "Antiquities" auction (sale 9020, December 18, 1998, lot 32)

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private New York, USA collection, acquired from Sasson Ancient Art, Jerusalem, Israel in the 2000s

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#167966
Condition Report: Losses to legs below upper thighs as shown. Chips, nicks, and abrasions to body, limbs, head, and verso, with fading and wear to glaze pigment, softening to some finer details, light encrustations within some recessed areas, and pitting commensurate with material type. Light remains of glaze pigment throughout and nice preservation to overall form.