Description:

Ancient Egypt, Roman Period, ca. 1st century BCE to 2nd century CE. An exceedingly rare pottery figure of Beset (also Besis), dwarf deity and wife of Bes. Her nude femininity presents with hands placed atop her hips, her abdomen and breasts drooping over her waistline, and thick locks of hair cascading down her head and resting atop her shoulders. Large, almond-shaped eyes rest beneath thin brows while full cheeks and lips create an ancient allure. While Beset shares her husband's protective qualities, she was not heavily worshipped until the Ptolemaic Period. Size: 1.1" L x 1.7" W x 2.7" H (2.8 cm x 4.3 cm x 6.9 cm); 4.3" H (10.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Cf. an earlier bronze example at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accesion number 66.123.3

Provenance: Collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA, purchased from Cindy Rilling on January 23, 2011; ex-private John Rilling collection, from the late 1970s

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#182360

  • Condition: Losses to verso of head, legs, and areas of peripheries as shown. Softening to some finer details, with light earthen deposits, otherwise in great condition. Nice preservation to female form.

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January 18, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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