Egyptian Bronze Situla ca. 600 - 300 B.C. Item Number: 972758 $695.00 RESERVED

DescriptionAncient Egyptian Bronze Situla, Late Period, ca. 600 - 300 B.C. Solid bronze with tapering cylindrical body, pointed base; with twin vertical loop handles, original chain and hook. Situlae are pails or buckets used to carry holy water and other liquids used in religious ceremonies. They are found throughout the Ancient Near East, Egypt and Nubia and in the Greek and Roman worlds and continue to be used in the Roman Catholic Church. This example is of a type frequently shown on Egyptian temple walls where the king presents a libation to the gods. It takes its shape from a type of pottery amphora with a button base that was tied to a water wheel. This small version is of a type that was left by visitors to temples and sacred sites and was either decorated with scenes of the gods on the exterior or left plain as in this example. Situla itself measures 3"L, with chain 6-1/2"L, hook implement is 5"L. Condition is very good, with overall surface encrustation. Very rare to find with chain/hook.

ProvenanceEx-private NYC Collection.