Complete Ancient Egyptian Wooden Ptah-Soker-Osiris figure

Description

Mummiform wooden figure of the mortuary deity Ptah – Sokar – Osiris standing on an ancient wooden base. The mummiform figure with extensive remnants of polychrome paint decoration has an elaborate headdress, consisting of two ostrich plumes, a pair of rams horns, surmounted by a painted sun disc. Wearing a curved false beard and Tripartite wig falling over his shoulders. He has wide painted eyes, a prominent nose and mouth. Remnants of hieroglyphs down the front of the body. Sokar the hawk or falcon god sits at the end of the base on a small chest. Ptah was the Creator god, and god of artisans and architects. Osiris the God of the Dead and the Underworld.

CF. The Met Object number 86.1.88a-d. The Met Object number 21.9.1a-c. Bonhams London Lot 27 7th July 2022. Sotheby’s New York Lot 216 12th June 2001

PROVENANCE 

Old Sydney based collection formed prior to the 1970s

Origin

Late Period 664 to 332 BC Ancient Egypt

Measurements

Height of figure including original ancient base including plumed headdress is 59cm. With modern base include height is 63cm. Ancient plinth is 36cm long x 12cm wide.

Condition

The figure has extensive losses of polychrome paint as highlighted in the photos. But overall decent ancient condition for a wooden object of this age. The original wooden plinth is sat on a modern black timber slab on top of a black sheet of thick black Perspex, enhancing its display qualities. The item is five separate pieces, the figure, the headdress, the bird, the box and the ancient plinth.