Francesca Hickin
Head of Department
Lot 177
A set of four Egyptian limestone canopic jars
28 November 2019, 10:30 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £47,562.50 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Antiquities specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Anna Marston
Senior Cataloguer
A set of four Egyptian limestone canopic jars
Third Intermediate Period, circa 1069-664 B.C.
Each jar with a cylindrical body with rounded shoulders and flat base, the lids finely sculpted in the form of the Four Sons of Horus, comprising baboon-headed Hapy, human-headed Imsety, falcon-headed Qebehsenuef and jackal-headed Duamutef, each with remains of black pigment for the eyes, the interior of the vessels partially hollowed, 25-28cm high inc. lids
Third Intermediate Period, circa 1069-664 B.C.
Each jar with a cylindrical body with rounded shoulders and flat base, the lids finely sculpted in the form of the Four Sons of Horus, comprising baboon-headed Hapy, human-headed Imsety, falcon-headed Qebehsenuef and jackal-headed Duamutef, each with remains of black pigment for the eyes, the interior of the vessels partially hollowed, 25-28cm high inc. lids
Footnotes
Provenance:
with Galerie Uraeus, Paris.
Private collection, France, acquired from the above 31 January 1974.
Canopic jars were used to store the internal organs removed from the body of the deceased during the process of mummification. The jars came in sets of four, each designated for one of the vital organs: liver, lungs, stomach, intestines. From the 18th Dynasty onwards canopic jar lids were often in the form of the Four Sons of Horus, with each god being the protective deity of the contents of their respective jar. Each Son of Horus was also protected by a funerary goddess. Baboon-headed Hapy presided over the canopic jar which held the lungs of the deceased, and was protected by Nephthys. Human-headed Imsety presided over the canopic jar which held the liver of the deceased, and was protected by Isis. Falcon-headed Qebehsenuef presided over the canopic jar which held the intestines of the deceased, and was protected by Serket. Jackal-headed Duamutef presided over the canopic jar which held the stomach of the deceased, and was protected by Neith.