Finely sculpted in an idealizing style, with a high domed forehead and shaven skull, often described as ‘egg’ shaped. His face has narrow almond-shaped eyes, the upper lids rimmed, extending beyond the outer corners, the inner canthi pointed and angled, the modelled brows gently arching above, dipping slightly above the bridge of the nose, with prominent cheek bones and slightly compressed temples. His nose is now lost. The thick but well-shaped lips are pursed into a slight smile, the corners of the mouth indented. The entire surface of the back skull from forebrow up is inscribed with hieroglyphics. Some legibility has been lost in areas, though it is still clear that it is comprised of known texts. The texts are related to those on magical cippi (stelae), such as the reknowned ‘Horus Stela’ of the 30th Dynasty in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They consist chiefly of hymns and incantations intended to “ward off noxious animals and evil spirits”. Texts on these stelae usually consist of healing spells that include references to the mythological story in which the god Horus was injured and then healed. By referencing this popular story, an individual bitten by a snake or stung by a scorpion could likewise hope to be healed. Originally, at the time of sculpting, magical texts, like those on the Horus Stela, probably covered all but the face, feet and hands of the statue to which this head belonged. The statue would have stood in a temple where it could be visited by persons wishing to be healed. Inscribed statues of this type can almost all be dated to the fourth century BC.

Provenance

Previously in the Private Collection of Dr Charles A. Musès (1919-2000), acquired during his travels to Egypt before 1957 and in Canada from at least this date.
Thence by descent to the former wives of Dr Charles A. Musès (1919-2000) Christine de Montet and Jacqueline Musès Muller in 2000.
Private Collection of John L. Boehme, Victoria, Canada, acquired from the above in 2006 (accompanied by proof of payment from 2006 and a handwritten letter probably from the same date confirming the provenance history).
Thence by descent to John H. Boehme, Victoria, Canada (accompanied by Canadian export permit).

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