David Aaron

David Aaron recently sold a finely modelled bronze statuette of the cat Bastet dating to the Late Period of Egypt (664–332 BC). Standing at a subtle 17 cm tall, the figure showcases the naturalistic detail typical of the Saite Period and features a beautiful black patina.

The statuette represents the goddess Bastet in her iconic domestic cat form. Cats were the sacred animal of Bastet – originally a lion-headed goddess, who eventually came to be depicted as a woman with the head of a cat or simply as a cat. Bastet was a protector of Lower Egypt, defender of the pharaoh and the sun-god Ra, and served as the gentler counterpart of the warrior goddess Sekhmet.

Bastet was a goddess of fertility and childbirth who protected against contagious diseases and evil spirits. Many bronze cat statuettes were dedicated to Bastet in temples throughout Egypt, especially in the city of Bubastis, which was home to a large population of cats who were cared for by Bastet’s devotees.

This piece carries a distinguished provenance, tracing back to prominent European collectors from the 19th and 20th centuries: it was owned by Adolphe Raifé, a renowned Parisian collector whose antiquities were studied by leading archaeologists; followed by Julien Bessonneau, an industrialist and mayor from Angers, whose collection remained a family legacy for decades. Finally, Jean-Pierre Léveilley acquired the statuette in the late 20th century, and it remained in his collection until arriving at David Aaron.