Ancient Egyptian Limestone Sculptor's Model

About the Item

Heads of a king, like this one, became popular in the Late and Ptolemaic periods and may have been used as models for sculptors or votive offerings. In the form of a bust of a pharaoh, wearing a nemes-headcloth, and fronted by a uraeus with its tail extending back over the crown of his head, this delicately modeled sculpture exudes a distinctive nobility in spite of its rather small stature. The idealized royal portrait features a sfumato brow line above almond-shaped eyes, elongated at their inner and outer canthi, and fleshy lips below. The proper left side of the face is unfinished, sculpted only in flat planes at oblique angles to one another, while the back, underside and lappets preserve delicately incised grid lines. Notes Small Late Period and Ptolemaic reliefs or sculptures that depict a subject in a partial or unfinished way but are themselves finished objects constitute a special class of object. The incised grid lines found on many of these items along with their unfnished appearance have compelled Egyptologists to refer to them as sculptor’s models, or trial pieces. However, because royal busts of this type were commonly found in temples, it has been suggested that they may have served as a votive, or offering, to a divinity in his or her shrine. Provenance Charles Ede, London, 1978. Antiquities Christie's New York, June 5th, 2014. Private Collection, Los Angeles California.

Dimensions:
Height: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)Width: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
Style:
Egyptian (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Limestone,Carved
Place of Origin:
Egypt
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
30th Dynasty to Early Ptolemaic Period, 4th Century BC to 3rd Century BC
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Intact, with minor chips to the edges throughout. Minor losses to the front of the uraeus, the nose, the lips. Minor incrustation on the surface overall. The back preserving some inked collection numbers and reminents of an old label.
Seller Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: MS.00081stDibs: LU10743248275452