Ancient Egyptian stone Hippopotamus

Granite stone animal, meticulously carved in the distinct shape of a Hippopotamus.

It body, in beautifully contoured forms, featuring smooth roundings and intricate details that bring to life the head, feet, and tail of this remarkable creature.

To the ancient Egyptians, the Hippopotamus was regarded as one of the most formidable threats in their world, embodying both danger and awe.

These enormous creatures posed a significant hazard for small fishing boats and various other river craft navigating the waterways.

Additionally, the fearsome beast might be encountered along the river’s paths in the essential journey to the afterlife, symbolizing both a guardian and a potential adversary.

As such, the Hippopotamus represented a powerful force of nature that needed to be acknowledged and controlled, both in life and in the realm beyond.

This exquisite example features a strategically placed hole in its back, thoughtfully designed to prevent the creature from inflicting harm upon the deceased it accompanied.

Comes with note of Dr. Timothy Kendall

A small, irregularly shaped stone carved into a hippopotamus, viewed against a black background.
A polished black, white, and gray granite mineral specimen, a hippopotamus on a black background.

Material: Granite Diorite stone

Size: 6 × 3 × 3,3 cm

Weight: 91 grams

Period: 1st - 3rd Dynasty, c. 3000 - 2675 B.C.

Provenance: J. Beekmans collection 1927 - 2008 The Netherlands

UK art-market 2005

Published : PB Paris 17 Jan 2009 lot 112

Price: € 22.500,—

A hippopotamus sculpture made from speckled black, white, and gray stone with a smooth surface, set against a black background.