STATUETTE OF SEKHMET Turquoise earthenware H. 6.7 cm Egypt, Late Period, c. 600 BC Provenance Former collection of Peter Gray, pioneer of X-rays on mummies, acquired in the 1980s Ex Artemission, Atticart Ltd, London Private collection, acquired in 2019 Votive statuette representing the seated Leonine goddess Sekhmet, with a slender female body surmounted by the head of a lioness with finely modelled features: erect ears, facial striations evoking a mane, powerful muzzle. The right hand is raised towards the face in a gesture of adoration or protection, while the left hand rests on the thigh. The goddess sits on an openwork cubic throne of remarkable technical virtuosity. The side panels feature precisely moulded hieroglyphic inscriptions, visible through the openwork structure. Sekhmet, whose name means "the Powerful One", embodied the dual nature of the warrior goddess: destructive as the "Eye of Ra" bringing plague and punishment, but also healing and protective, patron saint of physicians. The seated posture asserted her divine sovereignty and authority within the Egyptian pantheon. A Late Period Faience Statuette of Sekhmet. c. 600 BCE. Votive statuette representing the leonine goddess Sekhmet seated, depicted with a slender female body surmounted by a lioness head with finely modeled features: erect ears, facial striations evoking the mane, powerful muzzle. The right hand is raised towards the face in a gesture of adoration or protection, the left hand rests upon the thigh. The goddess sits upon a cubic openwork throne of remarkable technical virtuosity. The lateral panels display hieroglyphic inscriptions moulded with precision, visible through the openwork structure. Sekhmet, whose name means "the Powerful One", embodied the dual nature of the warrior goddess: destructive as the "Eye of Ra" bringing plague and punishment, but also healer and protector, patroness of physicians. The seated posture affirms her divine sovereignty and authority within the Egyptian pantheon.