Sarcophagus of a Jackal Mummy

Culture: Egyptian

Period: Ptolemaic period, 332-30 B.C.

Material: Terracotta, Nile mud, linen, bamboo, organic material

Dimensions: 31 cm high

Price: 22 000 Euro

Ref: 1505

Provenance: From the collection of Claude and Jeanine Verité, acquired between 1930 and 1980. Auctioned with Hotels des Ventes Monte Carlo on 12 October 2019, lot 65. There acquired by the art dealer Giano Del Bufalo. Last in a family estate. Accompanied by a French antiquities passport.

Condition: Unrestored and stably preserved. The sarcophagus stands on an old wood base and comes with a large glass case.

Description: Rare and extraordinarily well-preserved mummy sarcophagus of dried Nile mud, which is formed and stabilized with sediments and bamboo sticks. The sarcophagus is conical and stands on a flat base. On top sits a naturalistically worked out head of a jackal, who personifies god Anubis. He has a long snout, vigilant eyes and raised ears. The head is wrapped with a linen band, which cascades as a ribbon at the back and is tied with a cord. In the front of the sarcophagus an hourglass-shaped omission, where once an ivory or tortoise shell seal was inserted. The missing seal allows a glimpse into the structure of the sarcophagus and shows parts of the bamboo sticks. Interesting is also an x-ray, which the previous owner had taken. It depicts several bone pieces of an animal and a pouch, whose content is unknown. Presented under a glass case on an old wood panel.