Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate to Late Dynastic Period, 21st to 31st Dynasty, ca. 1070 to 332 BCE. A rare, mold-formed faience figure of Hatmehyt (also Hatmehit), the goddess of fish, who wears a schilbe fish atop her headdress. Hatmehyt presents nude in a striding pose, the lappets of her headdress draped over her breasts, while holding a papyrus flower against her abdomen with her left hand. Hatmehyt was typically worshipped in Mendes (also Per-Banebdjedet) and is one of the oldest ancient deities associated with fish. Her name translates to both "foremost of fish" and "foremost of the inundation," suggesting her association with the regenerative powers of the Nile waters. A column of hieroglyphs is inscribed along the dorsal pillar, and the entire figure is covered in turquoise-hued glaze. Size: 0.75" W x 2.3" H (1.9 cm x 5.8 cm); 3.3" H (8.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 89.2.610; also The Brooklyn Museum, accession number 05.573

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, acquired in 2008; ex-Royal-Athena Galleries, New York, New York, USA; ex-Jean-Marie Talleux collection, Grand Fort Philippe, France, acquired in Paris in December 1995

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#175462

Loss to legs of figure as well as dorsal fin of fish on headdress as shown. Minor pitting and earthen deposits, with light fading to glaze color, and softening to some finer details on obverse and hieroglyphs along dorsal pillar. Great preservation to recognizable form.