Late Period, Ca. 664-332 BC
An Ancient Egyptian stone statuette depicting the god Osiris, shown seated in mummiform with a braided divine beard, an atef-crown, and a peaceful, idealised face. He is posed with the arms folded across the chest, holding a crook and flail. Osiris is the most significant and important god in the Egyptian pantheon. He was known firstly as a god of fertility, then as a god of the underworld. In his role as Lord of the Underworld, he was associated with the pharaohs and is thus generally portrayed as a deceased pharaoh, as seen on this figure. This very important example was exhibited at Kresge Art Gallery, Michigan State University, 1985 to 2002. Published: J. Eisenberg, Art of the Ancient World, vol XXII (2011), no.158.
 
Provenance: Property of a Central London Gallery, acquired by a British collector, ex-private Bandy collection, Rochester, Michigan, USA; ex Royal Athena Gallery, 1986. Exhibited: Kresge Art Gallery, Michigan State University. Olympia Art & Antiques fair, London June 2022.