Statuette of Ptah

Bronze statuette of the god Ptah, depicted in characteristic standing pose wearing an enveloping cloak, a tight-fitting cap and a straight beard held in place by straps that can be seen along the jaws. The false beard is striated with nine lines and is different from the usual curved beard on other gods such as Osiris. Both hands emerge from slits in the cloak and hold a was-sceptre, signifying power and dominion. He wears bracelets and a broad collar (wesekh) with painted gold decoration. The eyes have been painted white with black pupils. The eyelines and eyebrows are painted black. The statuette is moulded, with a solid body cast to a hollow pedestal with a ramp at the front. It seems the three flat sides of the pedestal were inscribed but only the name “Amun” has survived on the proper right side (possibly the end of someone’s name) and seemingly a few, now faintly etched, hieroglyphs on proper left side that may become more visible with reflective transformation imaging. From the bottom of the statuette base a tang extends for 27 mm from the bottom of the pedestal base. CONDITION NOTE 1998: Patches of corrosion and fresh corrosion, modelling clay up base, concretions.