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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ancient Art / Ancient Egypt, Late Period Bronze Statuette of Osiris (No reserve price)
ITEM: Statuette of Osiris MATERIAL: Bronze CULTURE: Egyptian PERIOD: Late period, 664 - 332 B.C DIMENSIONS: 45 mm x 10 mm CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex French private collection, acquired between 1960s - 1980s Statuettes of Osiris are among the most iconic devotional objects from ancient Egypt, serving as tangible manifestations of the god of the underworld, resurrection, and agriculture. Typically cast in bronze, wood, or faience, these votive figurines proliferated during the Third Intermediate and Late Periods (c. 1070–332 BCE). They were widely dedicated at temple sanctuaries or placed inside tombs to secure the deity's favor. As the ruler of the afterlife who conquered death after being dismembered and resurrected, Osiris embodied eternal life and spiritual rebirth, making his image a powerful talisman for both the living seeking divine protection and the deceased journeying through the Duat. In classical iconography, the statuettes depict Osiris as a mummiform king standing or seated on a throne, with his body tightly wrapped like a mummy to signify his resurrection from death. He wears the distinctive Atef crown—a tall white crown flanked by two ostrich feathers and often adorned with ram horns and a uraeus cobra—symbolizing his supreme authority over the realm of the dead. His arms are crossed over his chest, holding the royal regalia: the crook (heqa), representing guidance and kingship, and the flail (nekhakha), symbolizing fertility and command. His face is usually detailed with a ceremonial braided beard with a curved tip, emphasizing his divine, immortal nature. Beyond their formal aesthetic appeal, these statuettes played an essential role in ancient Egyptian ritual economy and religious practice. Thousands were produced using lost-wax casting techniques and donated by pilgrims to temples as ex-voto offerings to gain Osiris's blessing, ensure fertility of the land, or guarantee eternal life for departed ancestors. When interred alongside the deceased in tombs, the statuettes acted as protective guardians and spiritual conduits, ensuring that the deceased would be judged favorably at the Weighing of the Heart ceremony and granted safe passage into the Field of Reeds. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license
Estimate:£322.53
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorAncient Art
Estimate:
£322.53
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EGYPTIAN SARCOPHAGUS PANEL PARTIALLY GILDED, WITH EMBALMING SCENE AND DEITIES
06/21/2026
£15,000
Est: £8,000
