Large Wood Painted Djed Pillar

Culture: Egyptian

Period: Late period, 664-332 B.C.

Material: Wood

Dimensions: 22.4 cm high

Price: 2 800 Euro

Ref: 1476

Provenance: Belgian private collection Félix Lauwers (1928-1995), acquired in the 1970s. Thence auctioned with Pierre Bergé in Paris on 30 November 2011, lot 373. There acquired by the private collection of Jean Deriat (1922-2016), thence in a family estate.

Condition: Unrestored, with beautifully preserved polychromy.

Description: Large wood djed pillar with abundant, polychromic painting. The pillar is far protruding at the bottom. Around the centre a hardly readable hieroglyphic inscription which mentiones the name of the owner. The djed pillar was one of the most used amulets in Egypt. It is considered as the symbol for “endurance” and “eternity”. From the New Kingdom on, due to its form, it was also associated as the backbone of god Osiris. It should connect the deceased with Osiris, who was brought back to life after his death. On top a preserved wood tenon which was used to affix the very large djed pillar to a furniture in the tomb or to a sarcophagus.