26th Dynasty, 664-525 BC. A bronze amuletic statuette of the Egyptian god Nefertum, modelled in the round advancing forwards, arms held tightly to his sides, bare torso, wearing a lotus blossom headdress flanked by one remaining menat, tripartite wig, kilt and long beard; loop to reverse of the headdress for suspension; mounted on a custom-made display stand; accompanied by a note folded inside an envelope stamped 'Massar Brothers Khan El Khalily Bazaar Cairo (Egypt) U.A.R', the note handwritten on Massar Brothers headed paper, 'Authorised By The Egyptian Museum To Sell Antiquities Licence No.123', and reads: 'God Nefertum in bronze 26th. 2800 years old Provenance Lower-Egypt Nefertum was the god of the flower and and (sic) plantation, he was too, the god of hope. Guaranteed antique genuine Massar Brothers 27/9/69', two Cairo '10 Mills' stamps below, over-stamped with 'Khan El Khalily' ink stamp. Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 04.2.455; cf. The Smithsonian, accession number 260207. 233 grams total, 14.5cm including stand (5 3/4"). Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, collector; previously with a Middlesex collector who acquired the piece from Hassar Brothers, Cairo, Egypt, in 1969; accompanied by the original sales receipt dated 27th September 1969. 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'; one version of the Book of the Dead reads 'Rise like Nefertum 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. Condition Report Fine condition.