Bidspirit auction | EGYPTIAN GOLD BEAD WITH RECUMBENT

EGYPTIAN GOLD BEAD WITH RECUMBENT LION - Second Intermediate Period, Ca. 1620 - 1550 BC. An Egyptian 20 ct gold bead of a recumbent lion with a tubular hole under the paws. The figure is extremely detailed with an elongated body, wild mane and a long muzzle. In some contexts, the lion was associated with the sun god Ra and the solar cycle. The lion's strength and ferocity was likened to the sun's radiant power. The image of a lion-headed figure with a solar disk, became a potent symbol of solar deities in Egyptian mythology. For similar see: British Museum: Museum number EA24788. This piece has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis to confirm the metallurgical content suggesting its ancient origin and lack of modern trace elements. Size: 15mm x 15mm; Weight: 3g Provenance: Prince collection, 1990s-2014, acquired in 2008 from a UK private collection formed in the 1970s to 1990s. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.