Lid of Canopic Jar, Head-Shaped, Late Period of Ancient
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Description
Egypt, Late Period, 26th to 30th Dynasty
Lid of a canopic jar in the shape of a human head with striped wig
Partially preserved painting
Dimensions: height 10 cm; diameter max. 8.9 cm; diameter inside 4.9 cm
Provenance: Private Collection Bruno Wertz
Scientific research: Dr. Jan Moje, Free University of Berlin (see references below)
Similar canopic jar lids are located in the Museo Egizio in Turin (19108) and in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo (CG 4479)
This object originates from the Late Period of ancient Egypt, the 26th to the 30th Dynasty (664-341 BCE). It was made of fired, light brown clay, and belonged as a lid on top of a canopic jar, in which the mummified bowels of the deceased were buried. In general, canopic jars were closed with the heads of the four Horus sons in the shape of a human being, a hawk, a baboon, or a jackal. The present human head links to the identity as the Horus son Amset (also known as Imset). The slightly squint out bounding wig is voluminous and subdivided into red painted wisps. Three bent lines on the neck imply a jewellery collar. The face is chubby-cheeked with wide mouth and flat nose, and slightly sunk nostrils. The overlarge eyes are dimly engraved and highlighted with red colour on eyelids, brows and pupils. Both detailed mannered ears are lying relatively high on the outside of the wig. They draw attention to themselves because of their over proportionally large size. The lid is hollow on the inside, but moulded with a very thick wall.
The canopic jar lid is, considering its great age, in an astonishingly well-preserved condition. The face is abraded and displays attrition. The entire surface of the jar shows colour deprivation. The jar is 11.2 cm in height, max. 8.9 cm in diameter on the outside, and 4.9 cm in diameter on the inside.
Auctionata would like to express its deep gratitude to Dr. Jan Moje for the scientific preparation of the collection and the research for the text. We do declare explicitly that the pricing of the objects of this auction does not derive from Dr. Jan Moje. Please do not hesitate to contact Auctionata for further background research information about the objects, especially the decipherment of hieroglyphics.
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