Pantheistic statuette of Bes

The basis of the composition is the figure of Bes with his leonine head, the mouth open exposing teeth and a short protruding tongue. His dwarf body has a lion tail and he wears a head-dress of six striated plumes, on the back of which is carved in relief a nestling bird facing right, its wings displayed. In addition, he is shown offering his right breast held with his right hand and he grasps a lizard to his body with his left hand. On each shoulder squats a monkey with spotted pelt at the rear, facing forward behind the large projecting and perforated ear. An antelope stands before his legs.

A hole in the underside of the base is original and was the means of making a stable fixing upon a peg. This suggests that the figure may originally have been a protective household god. The blue-green faience with details in black is in good condition except for a slight chip on the lower front edge of the base.

Cyril Aldred & Geoffrey T. Martin, 1997

Entry taken from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection 3 volume catalogue, edited by Steven Hooper (Yale University Press, 1997).