Rare Limestone Torso of a Pataikos

Culture: Egyptian

Period: Roman period, late 1st century B.C. to 1 century A.D.

Material: Limestone

Dimensions: 18.5 cm high

Price: 4 000 Euro

Ref: 1500

Provenance: Private collection M. V., Boulogne, France since the 1980s. Thence with Delorme & Collin du Bocage "Entière collection de Monsieur B, partie 1" on 24 February 2010, lot 61. There acquired by the collection Gilles Grimm. On 19 December 2018 with Aguttes Paris, lot 354. Last with Bonhams auction Paris on 7 October 2021, lot 131.

Condition: Unrestored with beautiful age patina. The devastation took place in ancient times, probably when the Christians stormed the ancient temples at the end of the 4th century AD.

Description: Large and rare torso of the dwarf god Pataikos. The figure with far protruding, bulbous belly, hanging breasts and wavy folds underneath. The strong arms of the god rest on the sides along the body. The legs are preserved up to the thighs, the private part was already knocked off in ancient times. Pataikos is a dwarf-like god who was very popular with the common people and had an apotropaic function. He protected against dangerous animals, being depicted standing on crocodiles or holding scorpios. He is the true-to-life representation of a dwarf human and almost exclusively documented in amulet form. Therefore this large limestone statue is even more rare. Mounted on an old wood base.