Ancient Egyptian Princess Head from 14th Century B.C. Listed on eBay

Business Wire ^ | June 25, 2005 | GazinAuctions

[FairOpinion]

Amazing Ancient Egyptian Princess Head from 14th Century B.C. to be Listed on eBay; Head is That of King Tut's Sister - First Time on the Market in More Than 50 Years

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 23, 2005--A rare Mansoor portrait sculpture of an 18th dynasty Amarna Princess (ca 1363-1364 B.C.) goes live on eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, June 23rd at 10 AM P.S.T.

Previews of the piece are now viewable at www.ebay.com/princess . The beautiful, delicately carved pink limestone head was last sold more than 50 years ago by the legendary M.A. Mansoor, to a private collector, who owned it till his death several years ago. The only other known pieces are on display in museums or held in private collections.

The exquisitely carved princess is descended from the most famous royal family known in ancient Egypt. Her father was history's first monotheist, Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh, - while her mother was Queen Nefertiti, the world renowned beauty.

This Princess was a sister to the most remarkable pharaoh of all time, Tutankhamun (King Tut), and possibly, the one he married, Ankh-es-en-paten.

This princess head is in nearly perfect condition, the facial features and entire head are unblemished, the neck with a break, but repaired. The head is a complete sculpture unto itself, it was made in antiquity as a finished piece in the manner of a stopper to be inserted into the body of a statue.

Mr. M.A. Mansoor, admired and respected for his indisputable reputation and professional integrity, sold ten pink limestone sculptures from his Amarna Art collection to King Farouk of Egypt prior to World War II.

Mansoor was a fixture among the elite social circles at the Shepards Hotel in Cairo. In the early part of the 20th century, the "Golden Age" of Egyptology, his friends and clients included King Faud and Queen Nazli of Egypt, King Alphonse the 13th of Spain, King Carol of Romania, King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, and King Prajadhipok of Siam. English archaeologist Howard Carter, the famed discoverer of the tomb of Tutankhamun, acquired many antiquities from Mansoor for Lord Carnarvon, who financed the Carter Expedition.

In recognition of his outstanding abilities and legendary finds, M.A. Mansoor was appointed "Antiquities Dealer to The King," - the only person to receive such an honor in Egypt. This appointment secured his reputation and facilitated sales overseas to museums and serious private collectors worldwide, including to the Chicago Oriental Institute.

Other pink limestone statues from the collection include: a unique full figure princess statue housed at the Louvre Museum in Paris, a Nefertiti head at the Denver Art Museum, and several royal Mansoor Amarna art pieces on permanent display at the San Francisco State University Museum.

In an era where many antiquities are of dubious origins, there is significant archival documentation, and scientific reports, such as the Lucas Report, to support this pink limestone princess and the remarkable collection it was once part of. Award winning documentary film maker Paul Madelenat is currently in production on the Mystery of the Mansoor Armana collection, and calls its significance "one of the most important archeological finds in modern history."

For more information, please contact Eric Gazin, (323) 655-0554 or eric@gazinauctions.com.

About Gazin Auctions

Gazin Auctions is a premier auction management agency specializing in high impact and high value eBay auctions. The company has seven years of eBay strategy and experience to offer customers expert consignment listing for businesses, charities, or collectors. http://www.gazinauctions.com

[FairOpinion]

A rare portrait 4 inch pink limestone sculpture of an 18th dynasty Amarna Princess from 1364 B.C, she is the sister of King Tut and possibly the sister he married. From the Mansoor Amarna collection, it is being offered on eBay for $195,000 starting June 23rd at www.ebay.com/princess . The piece has been examined by leading experts, including Howard Carter's (King Tut Discovery) own chemist, Alfred Lucas, and found to be genuine. This is the first time in more than 50 years it has been offered on the market. (Photo: Business Wire)

Previews of the piece are now viewable at www.ebay.com/princess

[FairOpinion]

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list -- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.

I will ping the GGG list until July 2, 2005, during SunkenCiv's temporary absence from the board.

If you see articles appropriate for the GGG ping list, please ping me.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Born in Arizona, died in Babylona...

[FairOpinion]

CORRECT Link to the e-bay Princess auction:

Princess Auction on E-bay

[FairOpinion]

More images at the auction link.

[FairOpinion]

Oops -- since you were doing the pings, you were not on the GGG ping list.

So here is your personal ping. ( I already pinged the list)

[MaxMax]

I think that during those times,
They "shaping heads at birth" had the knowledge and experience to make skulls form.
All I can say is WOW.

Imagine the Child abuse! OMFGosh! CALL CSS!

[kingu]

Never did like private auctions; bidders should be open and transparent, especially in the anonymous world of electronic identities.

And an opening bid at nearly $50,000 per inch, that's some pretty expensive property they're selling.

Must say though, if I had the bucks sitting around, I'd be bidding on it. Really pretty piece.

[Blue Champagne]

Fascinating GGG pings today - thanks to all involved.

[ApplegateRanch]

I thought Grays didn't have noses?

I"ll chalk up the funny rear-skull shape to 'big hair', but either she has a world class case of acne, or else needs a shave.

That said, warts and all, there is a spot for her on my special shelf anytime she wants to visit.

[Ditter]

Is it really less than 4" tall? There is room at my house for it too.

[blam]

"Her father was history's first monotheist, Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh."

Some believe Akhenaten may have had Marfan Syndrome. (Abe Lincon Disease)

[Graymatter]

Recalls the adage, "Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly is right down to the bone."

[Graymatter]

Alternatively, you might want the bag of human bones --- skull included! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31480&item=7524969322

[bannie]

Gonna' have to empty my piggybank to get this one.

LOL

[Alouette]

Ancient Egyptian Princess Head

Artifacts of an ancient honor killing?

[FairOpinion]

Also that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

[Republicanprofessor]

The shape of the head is a typical attribute of the Amarna period, when the art changed under Akhenaton and became more curvaceous and life-loving (rather than death-obsessed). Here are some other images that show that her head is not atypical. I don't know why it looks like that: perhaps there was a disease.

Akhenaton and family, with the sun god (complete with little hands) in the middle. His daughter (of the bust of the story) must be one of those little children (above) and one of the daughters (below). I love the warm family image here; very different from the usual stiff, death- and ka-obsessed pharaohs.

And, of course, we need an image of his wife Nefertiti. Although she has a hat, she may have that oddly shaped head as well.

[Republicanprofessor]

Art ping.

Let Sam Cree or I know if you want on or off this list.

[woofie]