STATUE DE CHAT ASSIS REPRÉSENTANT LA DÉESSE BASTET, Égypte, Époque Saïte, probablement XXVIe Dynastie, 664-525 avant J.-C.

Lot 30
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Estimation :
200000 - 300000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 1 052 500EUR
STATUE DE CHAT ASSIS REPRÉSENTANT LA DÉESSE BASTET, Égypte, Époque Saïte, probablement XXVIe Dynastie, 664-525 avant J.-C.
IMPORTANT STATUE OF A SEATED CAT REPRESENTING THE GODdess BASTET Bronze and electrum Egypt, Saite period, probably XXVIth Dynasty, 664-525 B.C. Height : 27,8 cm. (restoration of the left ear) Provenance : Former private collection Jacques and Thérèse Bouvier Paris, acquired in the 1960s, Paris, since then in family descent. A certificate from Charles Ratton dated June 25, 1969, will be given to the buyer as well as the export certificate for a cultural good. This graceful statue of the goddess Bastet stands out for its size and plastic quality, which is only seen in a few other sculptures of the goddess. The cat's upright, dignified pose and alert expression of the eyes give it great majesty. The slender muscles and long graceful legs convey a sense of controlled power. The naturalistic modeling brings to life the animal, depicted sitting with its tail curled on the right side. His outstretched front paws emphasize his prominent shoulders. The cat is adorned with a wide ousekh collar, with three tight rows of rectangular beads above a row of tear-drop pendants. Below, hanging from another incised necklace, is an oudjat eye pendant invoking healing and protection. The eyes have exceptionally kept their electrum (gold and silver alloy) inlay. The pierced right ear once had a gold ring (now gone). At the top of the cat's head, a scarab, cast at the same time as the bronze of the statue, evokes the idea of daily rebirth. The first representations of cats date back to the Middle Ages, notably in cosmetic dishes. In the New Empire, cats became pets and began to be represented in a funerary context, on frescoes and tomb reliefs. Finally, the cult of the goddess Bastet, protector of the home and also associated with prosperity and fertility, developed in Egypt from the tenth century B.C., at the time of the installation of the main residence of the kings of the XXIInd dynasty in the city of Bubastis (Per-Bastet/the house of Bastet) in the east of the Nile delta. Mummified cats as well as wooden or bronze statues, like this one, were dedicated to her, and served as offerings to the deity. Selective bibliography: J. Malek: The cat in ancient Egypt, British Museum Press 2016 A.Daninos: Collection d'Antiquités Égyptiennes de Tigrane Pacha d'Abro. Ernest LeRoux, Paris 1911, p. 3, pl. 3, cat. 3. D. Schorsch & J.H. Frantz: "A Tale of Two Kitties", The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, new ser. vol. 55, no. 3 (Winter), pp.18-22, pp. 24-25, pp. 28-29. M.D. Pubblico: The Cult of Bastet during the First Millennium BC: some Bronzes from the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, in M.Tomorad & J.Popielska-Grzybowska, Egypt 2015: Perspectives of research: Proceedings of the Seventh European Conference of Egyptologists, 2nd-7th June 2015, Zagreb, Croatia, Oxford, (Archaeopress Egyptology 18), 2017, p. 207-218, p. 214 and note 43 IMPORTANT STATUE OF A SEATED CAT REPRESENTING THE GODDESS BASTET Bronze and electrum Egypt, Saite Period, probably XXVIth Dynasty, 664-525 BC Height: 11 inches/27.8 cm Restoration on the left ear €200,000/300,000 Provenance: Former private collection Jean and Thérèse Bouvier Paris, acquired in the 1960's in Paris and hence by descent. A certificate from Charles Ratton dated June 25th 1969 is available for the winning bidder. The quality of this graceful statue of the goddess Bastet is outstanding for its size and proportions and can only be observed in a small number of sculptures of the goddess. The erect and dignified pose of the haughty cat and the alert expression in the eyes bestow a great majesty. Long, slender, muscular legs convey a sense of graceful controlled power. The naturalistic modelling gives life to the animal. The cat is represented seated, its tail curled around the right side of the body. The outstretched front legs emphasize protruding shoulders. It is adorned with a large usekh necklace composed by three tight rows of rectangular pearls above a row of teardrop beads. Below, suspended from another incised necklace, is a wedjat eye pendant invoking healing and protection. Exceptionally, the eyes have retained their inlays of electrum (gold and silver alloy). The pierced right ear once wore a gold ring. At the top of the cat's head a scarab cast at the same time as the bronze of the statue evokes the notion of daily rebirth. The first representations of cats date back to the Middle Kingdom, particularly on cosmetic dishes. They became pets and began being depicted in a funerary context on tomb paintings and reliefs during the New Kingdom. The cult of the goddess Bastet, protector of the home and associated with prosperity and
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