ALABASTER  ‘CANOPIC JAR’ OF IMSETY

ALABASTER  ‘CANOPIC JAR’ OF IMSETY

Large alabaster jar with a marble canopic stopper in the shape of the human-headed son of Horus, Imsety. He is one of the four protectors of the internal organs of the deceased, in particular as the protector of the liver. His large ears and his face are nicely carved and enlivened with original black colors for the eyes and eyebrows, as well as for his lips and his nostrils. Alabaster jar with horizontal and vertical veins, offset rounded rim, flattened on top, rounded shoulder tapering downwards to flat base.

Ex priv. coll. T.M.W. baron v. Asbeck, inherited from great-grandfather W.J. Leyds, ambassador in Brussels for South Africa, 1890-1895 acq.
H. 38 cm; jar 26,7 cm, inact; stopper 11,5 cm., original polishing.

Jar: Middle Kingdom, c. 2000-1800 BC; stopper: New Kingdom, c. 1500-1300 BC

Note: The four sons of Horus were responsible for protecting the internal organs of the deceased, such as liver (Imseti, human), lungs (Hapy, baboon), stomach (Duamutef, jackal) and intestines (Qebsenuef, falcon).