Bronze Mirror with the Cartouche of Pharaoh Horemheb

Culture: Egyptian

Period: Late 18th dynasty, 1319-1292 B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 20.5 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 1124

Provenance: Belgian private collection, acquired on 17 April 1972 at Gallery Carrefour. Accompanied by an original handwritten invoice of the owner Pierre Vérité.

Condition: Traces of oxidation as seen on the photograph, but intact.

Description: Solid bronze mirror made in one single piece, depicting on one side Pharaoh Horemheb’s cartouche. The round, once polished form of the mirror should resemble the sun. The today missing ivory or alabaster cover of the original and still preserved bronze handle once possibly had the form of the goddess Hathor or a papyrus roll. Horemheb was the last pharaoh of the 18th dynasty. He already was army commander-in-chief under Tutankhamun and organized after Akhenaton’s death the return and move from Amarna to Memphis. The cartouche of Horemheb on this mirror should forever protect the name of the ruler and should let him live forever. A unique object of historic importance! With the original invoice of 1972 and a handwritten note of the previous owner.