Rare Egyptian sculpture [record price set for ancient sculpture]

Christian Science Monitor ^ | January 18, 2006 | Christopher Andreae

[SunkenCiv]

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, set a world record when it bought this ancient Egyptian limestone sculpture at auction Dec. 9. Extraordinarily, earlier in the same sale, another statue, a granite figure, also set a record for an Egyptian antiquity, when it sold for $2,256,000. But the granite figure didn't hold that record for long. It was spectacularly overtaken by this "Group Statue of Ka-nefer and His Family," which sold for $2,816,000. According to inscriptions, this tomb sculpture represents the "Overseer of Craftsmen, Priest of Ptah," "His wife, the Royal Confidant, Tjen-tety," and "His son, the Overseer of Craftsmen, Khuwy-ptah."... The piece was purchased from a private collection in the United States. But its known history as a collector's item dates back to a French general, Louis André (1838-1913). Then there is a long gap in its provenance until 1989, when it was bought at auction by the owner who preceded the Kimbell... "There is very little top-rate material of this early date still in private hands that we might consider acquiring," says Potts. Most Egyptian sculpture of comparable quality is already in museums.

[SunkenCiv]

'Old Kingdom art: Rare Egyptian sculpture puts a human face on a remote civilization' is the original title, but too long.

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[SunkenCiv]

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[Dustbunny]

Beautiful but the cost was staggering.

[blam]

The bronze statue of Nefertiti that I picked up in Cairo in the early '60's will do just fine for me. They've priced me out of the market, lol.

[SunkenCiv]

And in a few years, Egypt will demand its return, and some fathead in charge will comply with the demand.

[FairOpinion]

FROM AN EGYPTIAN TOMB: This limestone sculpture, 'Group Statue of Ka-nefer and His Family,' dates to the Fifth Dynasty. KIMBELL ART MUSEUM

"Seen in a photograph, this sculpture might be thought gigantic. But it's just 14 inches high. Potts says that a statue of this size is, however, quite normal: "Quality is more important than size. In fact some of the larger sculptures can be rather crude in comparison."

Interesting. I would have thought it's bigger also. But I have also seen large Egyptian statues with a lot of fine detail, not crude in the least.

[FairOpinion]

Art Ping

[SunkenCiv]

The Boston Museum of Fine Art is worth visiting just for the ancient collection, particularly the Egyptian stuff:

Lady Sennuwy

[FairOpinion]

Thanks. If I end up in Boston sometime, I'll make sure to take time for it.

[SunkenCiv]

Definitely worth it. Of course, there are more barriers to the art due to the tireless efforts of dip@#$% kids and their keepers who let them climb all over one of a kind pieces of art from 4500 years ago.

[SunkenCiv]

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