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Les objets les plus raffinés présentés par {name}

Ruth Garrido Vila

This amazing and rare lizard sarcophagus is made of bronze and belongs to Ancient Egypt, specifically to the Late Period (722 - 332 BC), a period characterized by an intense production of votive and ritual objects for temples and popular religious practices. The piece exhibits excellent conservation, with a greenish patina characteristic of ancient bronze, which reinforces its authenticity and antiquity.

In the Egyptian context, zoomorphic sarcophagi were used to contain mummies of small sacred animals, which were offered as vows to the gods or placed in tombs as protective amulets. In this case, it is a sarcophagus for lizards, animals associated in Egyptian mythology with the god Sobek, a crocodile deity related to the Nile, fertility and protection. These animals were also believed to possess apotropaic powers, meaning they could ward off evil and protect the deceased on their journey to the afterlife.

The sarcophagus has a rectangular shape with an incised relief on the top, where two elongated figures representing lizards in bas-relief can be distinguished, sculpted in a schematic but recognizable manner, following the Egyptian style of linear and simplified representation. The parallel arrangement of the lizards suggests ritual symmetry, evoking a symbolism of duality and protection. The lower part of the object is hollow, indicating its use as a container, possibly for mummified remains or some symbolic element related to the cult of Sobek or protective funerary practices.

The use of bronze in this piece not only adds durability, but also confers a sacred character, since metal objects were considered eternal and incorruptible by the Egyptians, making them especially suitable for ritual purposes. The green patina, a product of the oxidation of the copper present in the bronze, reinforces its authenticity and suggests a long exposure to environmental conditions that have contributed to its preservation.

During the Late Period, the practice of mummifying small animals and placing them in bronze sarcophagi became common, reflecting the popular devotion to zoomorphic deities. These objects were deposited in sacred necropolises as votive offerings or as funerary accompaniment to guarantee protection and rebirth in the afterlife. The choice of the lizard not only alludes to its connection with Sobek, but also to its symbolism of regeneration, since these reptiles were observed renewing their skin, which was associated with the cycle of life and death.

Similar examples have been found in archaeological sites such as Thebes and Fayum, where Sobek was venerated as the god of the Nile and protector of agricultural fertility. These zoomorphic sarcophagi were placed in animal temples or catacombs, often alongside other crocodile or fish sarcophagi, emphasizing the importance of the Nile ecosystem in Egyptian religion.

The natural patina, uniform wear, and modeling technique are consistent with Late Period Egyptian style and production.

In short, this lizard sarcophagus is an exceptional piece for both its artistic quality and its profound religious symbolism. Not only does it represent Late Period Egyptian funerary art, but it also offers a glimpse into devotional practices and the worldview regarding protection and rebirth in the afterlife. Its excellent state of preservation and apparent authenticity make it a valuable example of Egyptian votive art.

Acquired from a Spanish private collection, F.C.B in the 70's.
- The piece includes an authenticity certificate. 

The Seller can prove that the lot was obtained legally. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged, this process can take between 2 and 4 weeks.

IMPORTANT: Due to the new laws on the export of archaeological pieces, we have decided to NO LONGER sell outside the European territory for the following countries: SWITZERLAND & UNITED STATES of AMERICA.

For other destinations out of European territory: all our items will be shipped after obtaining a definitive LICENSE EXPORTATION by the Ministry of Culture of Spain. We inform our clients that it may take between 4-8 weeks. According to Spanish legislation, items sent outside the European Union are subjected to export taxes. The taxes will be added to the invoice, at the buyer's expense. These export fees are fixed on the final auction price, and the tax rate is not applied directly to the total value of the item to be exported, but rather the different percentages by sections are applied to it:
Up to 6,000 euros: 5%. / From 6.001 to 60.000 euros: 10 %.

Please note that for far destination (Asia, middle east etc.. ), there will be an additional cost for the shipping.  


Late Period (722 - 332 BC)

L'Égypte ancienne sarcophage en bronze à double lézard - 2.5 cm

Archéologie

Prix de réserve

Sans prix de réserve

Achat immédiat

Budget

Jour de clôture

jeudi

demain

8 mars

dimanche

mardi

7 mars

aujourd'hui

lundi

mercredi

13 mars

6 mars

Pays

Espagne

Royaume-Uni

Pays-Bas

Belgique

France

Allemagne

Autriche

Italie

Danemark

République tchèque

Pologne

États-Unis

Portugal

Roumanie

Hong Kong

Japon

Norvège

Dimensions

Hauteur

Largeur

Profondeur

Objet

Outils anciens

Œuvre d'art ancienne

Bague

Sculptures et figurines anciennes

Pendentif

Perles et bijoux anciens

Minéral brut

Tête de flèche

Relique

Hache

Vases anciens

Sculpture

Figurine

Minéral taillé

Support de corps entier pour taxidermie

Fibule

Coquillage marin

Figure

Flèche

Sceaux et cachets anciens

Bracelet

Diorama

Outil

Pays d’origine

Europe

Canada

Inconnu

Suède

Suisse

Thaïlande

Israël

Mexique

Madagascar

Afrique

République dominicaine

Égypte

Chine

Matériau

Bronze

Terre cuite

Argent

Poterie

Faience

Verre

Silex

Céramique

Pierre

Albâtre

Faïence

Cornaline

Marbre

Grès

Stéatite

Plomb

Bois

Or jaune

Jaspe

Stuc

Étain

État

Excellent

Très bon

Très bon état, légèrement utilisé avec de petits signes d'usure

Très bon +

Bon état, utilisé avec des signes d'usure

Bon état

État raisonnable

Excellent état, à peine utilisé avec des signes minimes d'usure

Bon état - quelques usures et tâches dues à l’âge

État raisonnable, utilisé avec des signes visibles d'usure

Naturel

Bon état - Utilisé, présentant de petites traces de vieillissement

Mauvais état

État assez bien - utilisé intensivement & représentant d’éventuelles manques mineures

État assez mauvais - utilisé intensivement, représentant des traces d’usage comme des fissures majeures, dommages et manques importantes

État correct

Gravé

Sculpté à la main

État neuf

Restauré

Excellent état

Suppléments

Aucun extra

Support

Certificat

Époque

Crétacé, Inférieur (145 - 100,5 millions d'années)

1750-1800

Première domination chinoise (111 av. J.-C.–40 ap. J.-C.)

Indépendance (1947–présent)

Dynastie Qing (1644–1911)

Dynastie Tang (618–907)

Quaternaire, Pléistocène (2,58 - 0,0117 millions d’années)

Néogène, Pliocène (5,33 - 2,58 millions d’années)

Jurassique, Inférieur (201.3 - 174.1 millions d’années)

Paléogène (66 - 23,03 millions d’années)

Ordovicien (485,4 - 443,8 millions d’années)

1800-1850

Dynastie Song

1500-1550

1550-1600

1850-1900

Thème

Personnages de la mythologie romaine

Aphrodite

Vénus

Style

Romain antique

Égypte ancienne

Époque Viking

Médiéval, époque des Croisés

Néolithique

Romain antique, Empire

Médiéval

Grec antique mycénien

Âge du bronze

Celtique

Byzantin

Asiático occidental

Paléolithique

Luristan

Égypte ancienne, période tardive

Islamique

Chinois ancien

Égypte ancienne, Nouvel Empire

Scythe

Chinois ancien, empire unifié des Tang

Mésopotamien

Bactrien

Chinois ancien, empire Han

Grec ancien, Grande-Grèce

Grec ancien, hellénistique

Signature

Non signé(e)

Original

Reliure

Couverture rigide

Édition

Édition illustrée

Couleur

Brun

Archéologie

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L'Égypte ancienne sarcophage en bronze à double lézard - 2.5 cm

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