Ancient Egypt, Ptolemaic to Roman Period, ca. 1st century BCE to 2nd century CE. A hand-carved limestone amulet of a sphinx laying recumbent atop an integral rectangular plinth. The enigmatic creature raises its head to display its female face between the lappets of its headdress, and across its back are faint remains of yellow and black pigment. The spotted black pigment creates a leopard effect across the sphinx, perhaps indicating this amulet's association with astronomy since leopard spots were typically represented as stars in Egyptian artistry. Size: 1.27" L x 0.42" W x 0.91" H (3.2 cm x 1.1 cm x 2.3 cm); 1.51" H (3.8 cm) on included custom stand.

An example cast from bronze hammered for $5,000 at Christie's, New York "Antiquities" auction (sale 2605, December 5, 2012, lot 149)

Provenance: Collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired before 2004

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#182087

Softening to finer details, with chipping and fading to remaining pigment, and light abrasions, otherwise intact and excellent. Great preservation to sphinx form, and light remains of pigment visible across