Lot 4
  • 4

An Egyptian Basalt Bust of Tuthmosis III, 18th Dynasty, reign of Tuthmosis III, 1479-1426 B.C.

Estimate
200,000 - 300,000 USD
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Description

  • An Egyptian Basalt Bust of Tuthmosis III
  • basalt
  • Height 4 3/4 in. 12.1 cm.
probably from an enthroned statue of the king, wearing a ribbed ceremonial beard with chin-straps in relief, and the nemes-headcloth with alternating wide and narrow stripes and striated lappets and queue, his face with mouth indented at the corners, straight nose, and wide-set eyes with long contoured eyebrows and cosmetic lines in relief, the nipples recessed for inlay, a trace of the back-pillar below the queue.

Provenance

English private collection, late 19th/early 20th Century (based on custom-made white alabaster plinth with black capital lettering, description, and dating typical of objects mounts in English collections of this period (e.g. Lady Meux and Hilton-Price Collections)
Hoshigaoka Gallery Co., Ltd., Nagoya
Thomas Collection, London, acquired from the above in February, 1965

Condition

Good and as shown. There are several minor stress cracks or flaws in the stone. The back of the nemes headdress is has a worn down area just above the queue. The proper upper left lip is chipped and the head of the uraeus is missing. Note chips at outer edges of nemes, and on upper arms and back. Minor nicks and surface wear overall. The shiny surface seems to be a result of the piece being heated and then covered with wax, which has hardened over time, a technique common in the earlier part of the 20th Century.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

The features of the king’s face are distinctly Tuthmoside, and close stylistic parallels can be found among the large number of sculptures inscribed for or attributed to Tuthmosis III and datable to the latter part of his long reign.
Tuthmosis III is perhaps best known as a great military commander and a large number of successful campaigns are attested during his reign, during which time he notably expanded Egypt’s boundaries. He is also well known as the young prince whose stepmother, Hatshepsut, initially ruled Egypt as co-regent. After her death in 1468 B.C., the king began his sole reign, which was marked by extensive building and reconstruction projects, particularly at Karnak.
For a complete seated statue of the king very close in style compare Catharine H. Roehrig, Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2005, no. 193, p. 263 (Cairo JE 39260).