Lot 146a, Auction 4/20/2026: Egyptian Leaded Bronze Bastet Cat Ring-Loop Finial

$325.00

In stock

Ancient Egypt, Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic Period, ca. 664 to 30 BCE. A small leaded-bronze cat finial, modeled in an upright seated pose with the tail curling to the right, rises from a circular ring loop pierced by an opening, suggesting it once functioned as a fitting rather than a freestanding figure. Finials shaped as revered animals were commonly made for temple furnishings and ceremonial gear, and this feline type echoes imagery associated with Bastet. The ring element indicates it was designed to be mounted – likely set into the end of a staff or pole – so it could be carried as part of processional rites within the goddess’s cult setting, such as the sanctuary at Bubastis.

Condition: Softening to finer details. Pitting and abrasions to surface, with heavy patina and oxidation from age. Comes with a removable acrylic cube base.

Provenance: private Keokuk, Iowa, USA collection, acquired in Orlando, Florida, USA in the late 1980s

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