Ancient Egyptian Engraved Bronze Situla

 Late Period, ca. 700-30 B.C. A bronze situla (ritual vessel) used for carrying sacred liquids during religious ceremonies and offerings. The vessel features a distinctive teardrop or bullet shape with a narrow pointed base and two holes at the rim where the arched handle (now missing) would fit.The vessel is decorated with engraved religious scenes showing Egyptian deities arranged in registers (horizontal bands). One of the prominent figures appears to be the god Min, who was typically depicted in an ithyphallic form as a fertility deity, boat atop and lotus below. The rich with iconographical depiction indicate complex religious symbolism.The vessel's combination of practical function and religious imagery made it an important tool in ancient Egyptian temple ceremonies and offerings to the gods. Size 5 inches high + stand. (12.7 cm) + custom base.  Provenance: Private New York city Egyptologist collection