Carved stone Canopic Jar with Pharaonic head lid, Egypt, Height of both pieces: 57 mm. Weight of 2 pieces: 57.96 g. A miniature stone canopic jar with pharaonic head to the lid; Provenance: Acquired on the London art market in the 1980's. Age could be judged by the style, carved surface outside and inside the jar. References:In ancient Egyptian funerary ritual, a covered vessel of wood, stone, pottery, or faience containing the embalmed viscera removed from a body during mummification. First used during the Old Kingdom (c. 2575 - 2130 BCE), the jars became more elaborate during the Middle Kingdom (c. 1938 -. 1630 BCE), when their lids were decorated with sculpted human heads (probably representations of the deceased). From the 19th dynasty until the end of the New Kingdom (15391075 BCE), the heads represented the four sons of Horus. During the 20th dynasty (1190-1075 BCE), the practice began of returning the viscera to the body, and the art of canopic jars declined.
Low Estimate: 200;
High Estimate: 2000;