Egyptian statue replica - Amenhotep III Sphinx wearing the double crown.
Amenhotep III Sphinx
Dimensions:-
Height – 12.8 cm / 5 inches
Length – 15.2 cm / 6 inches
Width – 4.5 cm / 1-3/4 inches
On offer here is one scale replica of an Amenhotep III sphinx statue wearing a triple crown. The crown is made up of the striped Nemes headcloth surmounted by the double crown of upper and lower Egypt.
Made of a limestone and quartzite composition stone it has been given a well developed aged slate black / grey patina and has a felt lined base. A very beautiful and realistic edition.
* This listing is for one sphinx only so please select quantity of two if you would like to create a symmetrical display as featured in the photographs.
* Combined shipping is offered
* Express post available by request
Background information
A pair of statues reside today in Saint Petersburg, Russia, that represent two of the best examples of colossal Egyptian sculpture outside of Egypt. The original statues were found buried at the site of king Amenhotep the third’s mortuary temple in western Thebes, modern day Kom el Hettan in the early 1800’s.
Antiquity dealer Henry Salt had interested parties in both France and Russia but with the outbreak of the French revolution diverting attention away from the exotica of Egyptian antiquities, the Saint Petersburg destination was secured.
The statues appear to have suffered some almost identical damage during transit with the false beard torn away on both otherwise pristine statues. Reports state that rope gave way on one statue as it was being lowered onto the deck of a transportation boat and the statue smashed the deck to pieces.
After almost a year in transit they were sailed into Saint Petersburg and unloaded onto granite plinths where they remain to this day.
The double crown composition is a very rare addition for a sphinx sculpture and the most comparable example is to be found in the temple of Wadi el Sebua (valley of the lions) in southern Egypt. This temple was built by the later king Rameses the great who greatly admired and in many cases usurped the statuary of Amenhotep III.