An important Egyptian statue of Isis, dedicated to the Royal acquaintance of Ptahirdis

Late Period, Saite, mid to second half of Dynasty XXVI, circa 595-525 B.C.

Depicted seated on a throne with legs together, her hands resting on her lap, anankh-cross in her right hand, wearing a tripartite wig, overlaid by a vulture headdress holding shen-signs in each of its talons, and a frontal uraeus, the details finely incised, surmounted by a modius of uraei and a sun-disc between cow’s horns, a broad collar with a row of pendant beads between the lappets of the wig, wearing a tightly fitted ankle-length halter-neck dress, her face with almond-shaped eyes, the rims raised and with extended cosmetic lines, the eyebrows in raised relief arching above, with a delicate straight nose and full lips pulled into a slight smile, the filtrum defined, with small rounded chin and large well-modelled ears, inscribed on four sides of the throne with a magical incantation for the Royal Acquaintance, Ptahirdis, True of voice, son of Wepwawetemsaf, begotten of Merptahites.

28¾ in. (73 cm.) high

Provenance:

Probably from the tomb of Ptahirdis, Tomb G7992 A, Eastern Cemetery, Giza.
Collection of a French diplomat to Egypt; acquired in Alexandria between 1843-1846.
Thence by descent through the French noble family.

Sold Christie’s, London, Antiquities, 25 October 2012, Sale 7207, lot 57.

Daniel Katz Limited, London.

J. B. Hawkins Antiques