Late-Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 BC. A bronze statuette of the god Nefertum modelled in the round in a striding position, hands clenched at his sides, wearing a shendyt-kilt and symbols on his head, the lotus and feather headdress with pendant menats; lug to reverse of head and headdress. See The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 04.2.455, for similar; see The British museum, accession/miscellaneous number H1034.1, for comparable. 385 grams, 20cm (8"). Property of a West Sussex, UK, gentleman; acquired from a North London gallery, formerly acquired on the UK art market; the previous owner having acquired the piece at a local country auction. Nefertum was born of a blue lotus flower which had arisen from the primal waters. Some of his titles were 'He Who is Beautiful' and 'Water-Lily of the Sun', and a version of the Book of the Dead says 'Rise like Nefertem from the blue water lily, to the nostrils of Ra (the creator and sun god), and come forth upon the horizon each day'. He was regarded as the god of perfumes and unguents and ancient Egyptians often carried small statuettes of him as good-luck charms.