A rare Egyptian Trussed Boar Amulet, New Kingdom, ca. 1550 - 1069 BCE

Carved in the round from black serpentine, this is a rare example of a trussed boar with its legs tightly bound beneath its body. Amulets of trussed animals are part of a category of Egyptian amulets in the form of earthly possessions, many of which depict food offerings, "intended to keep the various spirit forms which survived death eternally supplied with essential food and drink even if actual supplies had ceased to be presented at the burial place" ( Andrews, Carol, 1994. Amulets of Ancient Egypt. Austin: University of Texas, p. 91).  Dimensions:  Length: 7/8 inch (2.01 cm) Condition:  Intact and in excellent condition. Mounted on a mid-20th century acrylic stand. Provenance:  Stewart Giles (1951-1993) private collection, acquired in London between 1978 and 1982, then by family descent.