Egyptian Limestone Ichneumon

An ancient Egyptian limestone ichneumon (mongoose) statuette standing on an integral rectangular shrine base. The bones of the sacred creature are contained within a hollowed out and plugged recess in the shrine base.

Late Period,

Ca. 700 - 30 BC.

Length: 4 1/2 in. (11.5 cm).

cf.: E. Brunner-Traut, "Spitzmaus und ichneumon als Tiere des Sonnengottes," Nachrichten der Akadamie der Wissenschaften in Gottingen, (1965), pp. 123-163.

Formerly in the collection of Baron Edouard Louis Joseph Empain (1852-1929), Belgium; acquired at Christie's, London, April 14, 2011, lot 104. n

Inv#: 4644

Guaranteed Authentic

$7,500