Lot 63
Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th Dynasty, ca. 664 to 525 BCE. A wonderful leaded bronze uraeus, or Egyptian cobra used as a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, deity, and divine authority in ancient Egypt, that was perhaps meant as a shrine fitting. Crowned by a sun disc indicating its divine status, the ancient serpent displays a raised, hooded head that projects forward and a downward sloping body that swiftly ends in a petite, flared tenon with an annular drill hole for attachment. Carefully incised lattice motif adorns the viper's hood, while horizontal striations embellish its neck, most likely intended to represent the scaly texture of the cobra's skin. Alternatively, the verso exhibits a raised vertical crest distinguishing the serpent's body from its hood. Russet and green patina envelop the sacred creature, imbuing it with an elegant presentation evocative of the ancient world! Size: 0.6" W x 2.4" H (1.5 cm x 6.1 cm); 3.1" H (7.9 cm) on included custom stand.
According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "When a cobra is threatened, it raises its upper body and inflates its hood. In ancient Egypt the rearing cobra (also called an uraeus) was seen as protection and was also associated with a number of goddesses. Deities or royals often wear an uraeus on their foreheads as protection and to indicate their divine or royal status. A frieze of rearing cobras was often used as a protective and decorative element for furniture or architecture."
Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 41.160.110 and Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University, 2018.010.583.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private Michigan, USA family collection, acquired in the late 1970s to early 1980s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
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.
#170808
- Condition: Minor area of loss on proper right side of sun disc. Surface wear as shown with expected nicks and softening of detail. Otherwise, in great condition with excellent patina.
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