STATUETTE OF A PRIEST Egypt, Late Period, 664-332... Lot 4

STATUETTE OF A PRIEST Egypt, Late Period, 664-332 BC Bronze with brown patina Dim_ 12,5 x 4,5 cm Provenance Former French private collection of Mr. S.D., acquired from the gallery Jean-Philippe Mariaud de Serres in the 90s. AN EGYPTIAN BRONZE STRIDING FIGURE OF A PRIEST, LATE PERIOD, 664-332 B.C. 4,9 x 1,8 in.The shaven-headed priest is standing in the straddling attitude, wearing a long skirt with incised details and a hieroglyphs column with the mention " The priest (our-diou) of Thoth the great, Lord of Hermopolis, Irethorerou, son of the divine father Tjaenhesret". The monument must be dated to the 26TH dynasty and its origin located to Hermopolis Magna. His arms bent with elbows bent are standing forward and the missing heads were probably holding libation vessels or ritual instruments. His back incised with a standing figure of Osiris, wearing atef-crown and holding a was-scepter. The male figure is shown standing in the attitude of walking - his left leg forward. His torso is bare and he wears a long loincloth tied below his navel, the folds of which are marked by fine cold incisions forming a succession of small oblique lines running parallel to each other. On the other side is an incised hieroglyphic column with the words: "The priest (our-diu) of Thoth the Great, lord of Hermopolis, Irethoreru, son of the divine father Tjaenhesret. "The monument must date approximately to Dynasty 26. The monument must date approximately to Dynasty 26, and its origin may be in Hermopolis Magna (15th province of Upper Egypt). The arms are bent at the elbows and stretched forward. The missing hands were probably holding offerings or ritual instruments. The head, with its shaved head and slightly protruding back, is characterized by fine and graceful features. The ears are clearly visible and show the quality and finesse of the bronze work. On his back is incised a representation of the god Osiris, in his mummiform sheath, wearing the atef crown, the false beard and the ouas sceptre.