31 - A DARK GRAY BASALT TORSO OF A MAN, LATE PERIOD, 664-332 BC

A DARK GRAY BASALT TORSO OF A MAN, LATE PERIOD, 664-332 BC Egypt. Finely carved in a striding pose, both hands held to his sides with palms open, and dressed in a short kilt with central tab hanging between the legs. The opaque stone is of a deep gray color with fine polish. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, obvious losses, few tiny chips, signs of weathering and erosion, and traces of prolonged burial. Provenance: - Collection of Rene Withofs, Belgium, acquired in the 1960s-1970s. - Guerin, Paris, 1990s. - Galerie Chenel, Paris, acquired from the above. - British private collection, acquired from the above. René Withofs (1919-1997) was a Belgian art dealer and collector based in Brussels, whose eclectic interests encompassed African art, ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean antiquities, as well as contemporary art. He acquired his first object at the age of thirteen and subsequently established an antiques shop and contemporary art gallery. Later he began dealing in African art, building an important collection through his activities in Europe and his travels in Africa. Objects from his collection subsequently entered major museums and distinguished private collections. Jean Willy Mestach painted his portrait was painted in 1954, surrounded by objects from his collection. Galerie Chenel was established by Ollivier Chenel and his wife Gladys in 1999 in Paris, later joined by his brother Adrien. A third-generation dealer, Chenel specializes in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities, and has built an international reputation through the gallery’s participation in major art fairs and its collaborations with leading museums, institutions, and private collectors. Weight: 864 g (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 12.3 cm (excl. stand), 18.5 cm (incl. stand) Mounted to a modern stand. (2) IADAA Search certificate: Certificate no. 18:02 from 6 July 2026. A copy of this document is accompanying this lot. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related diorite figure of Pekher-Knonsu, dated Ptolemaic period, 48.2 cm tall, in the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, catalog number RC-1583. Compare a closely related diorite figure of the Priest Harnefer, dated late 4 th century BC, 59.2 cm tall, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 17.120.145. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 6 July 2021, lot 140 Price: GBP 35,280 or approx. EUR 52,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: An Egyptian basalt torso of a man, 26th/30th dynasty, 664-342 B.C. Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, material, and condition. Note the size (24.8 cm) and inscriptions.