Egypt, Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic Period, ca. 664 to 30 BCE. A gorgeous and wonderfully preserved falcon that still retains its avian form as well as its curved, raptorial beak. The falcon bears a slender form as a result of having undergone the myriad processes involved with mummification with its legs tucked against its hollow, disemboweled body and its wings held tightly against its breast. The tapered tail illustrated how the Egyptians left the feathers unperturbed before gently wrapping the creature in fine linens, and frayed linens around the head reveal its original feathers and powerful beak. Though distinctly avian in form, falcon mummies from the Late Period were once identified as children before being unwrapped due to their petite size. Size: 8.75" L x 2.3" W (22.2 cm x 5.8 cm)

While known primarily for mummifying humans, the ancient Egyptians also mummified their animals on a regular basis as well. Mummified falcons like this example are suggestive of being someone's pet or perhaps an expensive offering to the falcon-headed gods Horus and Ra. In addition to house pets buried alongside their owners, a large market existed for mummified animals - from birds to cats and bulls to crocodiles - intended as sacred offerings to the many gods and goddesses of the Egyptian pantheon. The market for sacrificial animals for mummification was in fact so large that it necessitated an entire industry which researchers believe produced more than 70 million animal mummies between 800 BCE and 400 CE.

This creature has undergone X-ray analysis and has been confirmed as being a falcon.

Another example of a mummified falcon from the Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic period (ca. 664 to 30 BCE) hammered for EUR 7,500 ($8,467.12) at Christie's, Amsterdam "Twenty rooms: The private collection of the late Mrs. Elias-Vaes" auction (sale 2857, April 27-29, 2010, lot 36).

Provenance: ex-estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, acquired before 2000

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#158159

Minor fraying to some areas of linen wrappings, with desiccation to linens and feathers commensurate with age and mummification, and staining to linens, otherwise intact and excellent. Great preservation to form, exposed feathers, and beak.