Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th to 20th Dynasty, ca. 1550 to 1070 BCE. A wonderful amulet of Horus as a falcon hand-carved from feldspar and crowned by a silver pschent - the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. The god of kingship, healing, protection, the sun and the sky, Horus sits with wings tucked facing forward, the natural, seafoam green hue of the feldspar beautifully complemented by the lustrous silver of the headdress. The pschent crown, a combination of the Hedjet (white crown of Upper Egypt) and the Deshret (red crown of Lower Egypt), symbolizes the pharaoh's rule over the totality of Egypt. This bird represents Horus, the falcon-headed god whose eyes were both the sun and moon, as the legitimate ruler of all Egypt. This symbolism was used to great effect by the pharaohs of Egypt to aid in legitimizing their authority over the lands and people they ruled. Size: 0.4" W x 0.8" H (1 cm x 2 cm); 1.5" H (3.8 cm) on included custom stand; metal quality: 70.47% silver, 24% gold

The falcon was traditionally associated with several Egyptian deities. In addition, the falcon was a symbol of the sky-god Horus as well as the sun-god Amun-Re and the war-god Montu, who was also a solar deity.

This piece has been exhibited at the San Bernardino, California University Art Gallery in 1992, the Arizona State University Museum in Tempe, Arizona in 1992, the San Antonio Museum of Art's "Temple, Tomb and Dwelling: Egyptian Antiquities from the Harer Family Trust Collection" exhibition in San Antonio, Texas from 1993 to 1995, and the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art in San Bernardino, California from 1997 to 2010.

Additionally, this example has been published in the catalogue for the "Temple, Tomb and Dwelling: Egyptian Antiquities from the Harer Family Trust Collection, San Bernardino" exhibition by G. Scott in 1992 as number 101 on pages 152-3.

Provenance: collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA; ex-Bonhams London, UK, July 7, 2016, lot 110; ex-Superior Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA, September 26th, 1978; ex-Sotheby's New York, New York, USA, February 17, 1978, lot 248; ex-Philip Mitry collection, noted antiquarian in Egypt, prior to 1951

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#180899

Drill hole has been filled, but suspension loop on double crown allows it to still be worn as a bead or pendant. Light surface wear as shown, but otherwise intact and excellent. Modern adhesive on bottom to attach to custom stand.