Lot 33
  • 33

An Egyptian Polychrome Limestone Stela, early 12th Dynasty, circa 1938-1850 B.C.

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
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Description

  • An Egyptian Polychrome Limestone Stela
  • limestone
  • 16 1/8 by 10 3/4 by 2 3/8 in. 40.9 by 27.3 by 6 cm.
framed by a torus molding, a cavetto cornice above, the stela painted with a husband and wife facing right and clasping hands, the man holding a lotus blossom, three waterfowl above the woman’s head, a table piled high with offerings of food and drink before them, the two lines of inscription in hieroglyphic and hieratic script, probably in part translating "(O) Horus, Great of Respect! I am a falcon of gold! I am...".

Provenance

Sotheby’s Frankfurt, in association with Mak van Waay, Amsterdam, auction in the Palmengarten, Frankfurt, May 13th-14th, 1976, no. 600.

Condition

Good for a piece of this kind. The paint is worn in places and there are chips, nicks and abrasions both old and more recent. The stela is attached to a modern metal bracket.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

A stela which appears to be by the same hand is in Leiden, F 1937/12.1 (F. W. von Bissing, in Bulletin Antieke Beschaving, vol. 13/2, December 1938, p. 38, fig. 15.)