Lot 78b, Auction 4/12/2026: Egyptian Faience Amulet of Duamutef – Son of Horus

$325.00

In stock

Egypt, Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic period, ca. 664 to 30 BCE. A vivid blue guardian of the afterlife, this faience amulet depicts Duamutef, the jackal-headed son of Horus, rendered mummiform in profile to the right and clutching a long bolt of embalming linen in both hands. The figure is modeled in the traditional wrapped form, with the head of a jackal rising above the tightly bound body. The surface retains its characteristic turquoise-blue glaze, a color long associated in Egypt with regeneration, rebirth, and divine protection. A perforation at the top and another at the base allowed the amulet to be sewn directly onto a mummy’s bandages, ensuring its protective presence within the wrappings themselves. Duamutef was one of the Four Sons of Horus, deities charged with guarding the internal organs of the deceased. Specifically, he protected the stomach and was closely linked to the canopic jars that contained the embalmed viscera. Size: 0.6″ W x 1.8″ H (1.5 cm x 4.6 cm)

These four gods – each mummiform and distinguished by a different head – were believed not only to safeguard the organs but also to assist in the mummification process and to provide nourishment in the afterlife. Their role extended beyond mere containment; they formed a protective network surrounding the deceased.

Here, Duamutef’s grasp of the linen underscores his intimate association with embalming ritual. As with the canopic jars, amulets of the Four Sons of Horus likely functioned as magical reinforcements, placed among the wrappings to ensure the integrity and protection of the body. Compact yet potent in symbolism, this amulet embodies the Egyptian conviction that preservation of the body was essential to eternal life.

Condition: Some weathering to surface with softening of detail, but, otherwise, intact, excellent, and wearable with lustrous, vibrant glaze.

Provenance: private Sheffield, Massachusetts, USA collection via family descent. Father acquired prior to 1974.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all purchases.

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