Interiors & Decorations

Jewellery & Precious Stones

Watches, Pens & Lighters

Fashion

Coins & Stamps

Comics & Animation

Classic Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia

Wine, Whisky & Spirits

Asian & Tribal Art

Trading Cards

Toys & Models

Archaeology & Natural History

Sports

Music, Movies & Cameras

Books & Historical Memorabilia

The finest objects brought to you by {name}

Peter Reynaers

EGYPTIAN FIGURE OF OXYRHYNCHOS FISH

Ancient Egypt, Late Period, 664-332 B.C .

Schist

17,5 cm Large 

Provenance: Private collection, H., Hossegor, France. Acquired in a Christie's Auction (see label), private collection, Paris, 1970-60s.

Published: Millon & Associes, 21 May 2008, Archeologie, lot 200.

Condition: Very good, intact.

His is one of the most remarkable representations I have ever seen of the Oxyrhynchus fish. The animal is depicted in its typical form, with a distinctive elongated, downturned snout and equally distinctive bifurcated tail. The fish is wearing a headdress with frontal uraeus, surmounted by a solar disc between cow’s horns, the crown of the goddess Hathor, to whom the fish was sacred. The animal has a suspension loop behind and a long, thin dorsal fin which terminates in the tail. Its deeply recessed eyes were possibly once inlaid (cornserve an original inlay in one eye). The fish is perched on a sled with two papyrus columns, attached by means of the lower fins, tail and curved end of the base where it joins the mouth. The whole statuette has a rectangular base with two tangs for attachment.

There are two features that makes this representation so special. First there is a stunningly beautiful detailing of the animal's skin. The scales are very finely incised; it has been suggested that in view of this quality, the body of the fish may have been gilded. Equally well detailed are the collar, the gills and striations on the top and tail fins.

The ancient Upper Egyptian town Per-Medjed (modern el-Bahnasa) was the capital of the 19th Upper Egyptian nome. It was called Oxyrhynchos Polis by the Greeks, which means "Town of the sharp-snouted fish". This refers to a species of fish that lived in the Nile and that, according to mythology, ate the penis / phallus of Osiris after the dismemberment of this god by his brother Seth. It has been debated which species of fish it is, and there is some consensus that it is a species of mormyrus.

According to Greek historian Plutarchos (1st-2nd century C.E.) the inhabitants of Oxyrhynchos and those of a neighbouring town called Kynopolis ("Town of the Dog") were engaged in hostilities because a person from the latter town ate a sacred fish, after which the inhabitants of Oxyrhynchos started catching and eating dogs; this resulted in a civil war which had to be ended by the Romans (De Iside et Osiride, 72).

Literature:
For similar examples with a loop, balanced on a sled or an integral base, see: Arielle P. Kozloff, Animals in Ancient Art from the Leo Mildenberg Collection (Mainz am Rhein, Philipp von Zabern, 1981), fig. 60; Emma Brunner-Traut - Hellmut Brunner - Johanna Zick-Nissen, Osiris, Kreuz und Halbmond. Die Drei Religionen Ägyptens (Mainz am Rhein, Philipp von Zabern, 1984), fig. 16.


Late Period 664-332 B.C .

Ancient Egyptian Schist God Oxyrhynchos Fish. 11 cm L. Published. Christie's. Late Period 664 - 332 BC

Archaeology

Reserve price

No reserve price

Budget

From

Closing date

31 October

Sunday

1 November

Thursday

30 October

Wednesday

6 November

tomorrow

Tuesday

7 November

5 November

Monday

Location

Spain

The Netherlands

Austria

United Kingdom

Belgium

Germany

France

Italy

Hong Kong

Poland

United States

Czech Republic

Türkiye

Japan

Israel

Denmark

Portugal

Romania

Switzerland

Sweden

Bulgaria

Lithuania

Taiwan

Size

XS (under 10 cm)

S (10–40 cm)

M (40–80 cm)

L (over 80 cm)

Dimensions

Height

Width

Depth

Object

Ancient sculptures carvings and figurines

Ancient jewellery and beads

Ring

Ancient weapons and armour

Statue

Ancient artwork

Necklace

Ancient tools

Cameo

Sculpture

Earrings

Arrow head

Vase

Raw mineral

Carved mineral

Pendant

Intaglio

Ancient lanterns and oil lamps

Bracelet

Figure

Tool

Amulet

2 piece jewellery set

Ancient clothing and adornments

Country of origin

Netherlands

Europe

Unknown

Asia

Egypt

China

Thailand

Myanmar/Burma

Hungary

Africa

Bangladesh

Canada

Cambodia

Material

Bronze

Terracotta

Silver

Faience

Gold-plated

Glass

Pottery

Stone

Lead

Ceramic

Iron

Gold

Flint

Alabaster

Bone

Jasper

Marble

Wood

Stoneware

Carnelian

Earthenware

Schist

Porcelain

Steatite

Plaster

Gender

Women

Unisex

Condition

Good

Excellent

Very good

Very good +

Fair

Excellent condition

Very good condition - slightly used with small signs of wear

Good condition - used with some signs of wear

As new - unused

Good condition

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear

Excellent condition - barely used with minimal signs of wear

Fair condition

Unissued/As new

Good condition - used with small signs of ageing

Poor

Fair condition - used with visible signs of wear

Hand carved

Natural

Good condition, see description

Fair condition, see description

Engraved

Enhanced

Period

1950-1960

2020+

1960-1970

1980-1990

1990-2000

Tang Dynasty (618-907)

1970-1980

1920-1930

1800-1850

Northern Song (960-1127)

1930-1940

Paleogene, Eocene (56 - 33.9 million years)

Cretaceous, Lower (145 - 100.5 million years)

Jurassic, Middle (174.1 - 163.5 million years)

1550-1600

21st century

1850-1900

2000-2010

Mid 19th century

15th century

Coral

Pearl

Freshwater cultured pearl

Turquoise

Onyx

Lapis lazuli

Blood Coral

Certification

No laboratory report

Non-CITES species

Fineness

18 kt.

9 kt.

Subject

Male figures

Mythology

Archaeology

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

Ancient Egyptian Schist God Oxyrhynchos Fish. 11 cm L. Published. Christie's. Late Period 664 - 332 BC

Popular in Archaeology

2429 objects

Related collections