FEMALE STATUETTE Limestone H. 55 cm Egypt, Ptolemaic period, c. 3rd-2nd century BC Provenance Former French private collection, built up between 1990 and 2000 Leclere sale, 31/10/2018, lot 149 Private Parisian collection, since then The figure is dressed in a long, finely chiselled pleated chiton, whose parallel vertical folds are rendered with remarkable technical precision over the entire body. The right hand, folded over the chest, holds a cylindrical object (possibly a scroll or ritual attribute), a gesture typical of votive representations. The face, finely modelled despite the wear and tear of time, displays idealised features typical of Hellenistic aesthetics: almond-shaped eyes beneath pronounced superciliary arches, a straight nose, and a sketchy mouth with full lips. The hairstyle, divided by a central parting, symmetrically frames the face with waves suggesting braided or coiled locks, partially covering the ears and falling to the shoulders. The figure stands on an integrated rectangular base, with its bare feet slightly apart. Traces of tools can still be seen in some of the less worked areas, particularly on the reverse, indicating that the sculpture was carved directly into the limestone. The beige-grey patina of the limestone is uniform and deep, with limestone concretions and areas of surface erosion consistent with prolonged burial. The surface condition attests to the authenticity and age of the piece. The pleated garment is reminiscent of the Greek peplos or chiton, but the strict front and the hand on the chest are reminiscent of Egyptian iconographic conventions. This figure could represent a worshipper, a priestess or a deified deceased destined for a funerary or votive context. Statuettes of this type were generally placed in temples as ex-voto offerings or in tombs as magical substitutes for the deceased, ensuring her eternal presence with the gods. The gesture of the hand holding an object to the chest suggests a perpetual offering or an attribute identifying the person's status. A Late Ptolemaic Limestone Votive Statuette of a Woman. c. 3rd-2nd century BCE. The figure is clad in a long, finely chiseled pleated chiton, whose parallel vertical folds are rendered with remarkable technical precision across the entire body. The right hand, folded over the chest, holds a cylindrical object (possibly a scroll or ritual attribute), a gesture characteristic of votive representations. The face, finely modeled despite the wear of time, displays idealized features typical of Hellenistic aesthetics: almond-shaped eyes beneath pronounced brow ridges, straight nose, sketched mouth with full lips. The hairstyle, divided by a central part, symmetrically frames the face with undulations suggesting braided or coiled locks, partially covering the ears and falling onto the shoulders. The figure rests upon an integral rectangular base, bare feet slightly apart. The sculpture preserves visible tool marks on certain less worked areas, notably on the reverse, attesting to the process of direct carving in limestone. The beige-gray patina of the limestone, uniform and deep, displays calcareous concretions and areas of superficial erosion consistent with prolonged burial. The surface condition attests to the authenticity and antiquity of the piece. The pleated garment evokes the Greek peplos or chiton, but the strict frontality and hand upon the chest recall Egyptian iconographic conventions. This figure could represent a worshipper, a priestess, or a deified deceased intended for a funerary or votive context. Statuettes of this type were generally placed in temples as ex-votos or in tombs as magical substitutes for the deceased, ensuring their eternal presence with the gods. The gesture of the hand holding an object upon the chest suggests a perpetual offering or an attribute identifying the status of the figure.