Important Animal Sarcophagus with a Solid Bronze Statuette of a Falcon

Culture: Egyptian

Period: Late period to Ptolemaic period, 664-30 B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 13 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 1179

Provenance: Christie’s auction of 7 December 1994, lot 29, thence in an English private collection.

Condition: The sarcophagus with a hole at the bottom, the animal mummy missing. Otherwise of excellent quality.

Description: Magnificent animal sarcophagus with slightly inwards bent exterior walls and a set off lid, once possibly containing a mummy of a holy falcon. On the lid sits a bronze statuette of a falcon worked out in high quality with folded wings. The plumage worked out in details, the tail feathers crossed over each in the back. The head and expression of the bird also of high quality. See for reference regarding the craftsmanship of the bronze falcon in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession Number 25.2.11), which once contained animal bones inside.