RARE EGYPTIAN GOLD ATTACKING SNAKE FIGURE

Late Period, Ca. 664 - 332 BC.
An Egyptian 20.5 ct gold figure of a snake, depicted in an attacking position. The head protrudes forward with a coiled body, balancing the piece to stand freely. The body is etched with an interwoven pattern, recreating naturalistic scales which reach down to the tip of the tail. For similar see: MET Museum Accession Number: X.21.99. This piece has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis to confirm the metallurgical content suggesting its ancient origin and lack of modern trace elements. This piece is accompanied by a historical report from Alessandro Neri, an international Cultural Heritage expert based in Florence, Italy.
Size: 51mm x 33mm; Weight: 30g
Provenance: Prince collection, 1990s-2014; Ex. Gallery David Ghezelbash, Paris, 2007. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.