Exceptional Brass Figure Of Hetep
Finished with a high mirror polish and plated for style and longevity, this unique brass piece is inspired by an exceptional Egyptian figure of a royal lady, Hetep.
Through the digital reimagination process, her skin was smoothed out and the dedicatory base she stands on was straightened, in contrast to the painted figure of Hetep that Antico Contempo offers. This is because the piece is uniquely contemporary not only in design but in texture and reflectivity. The outcome is a brilliantly polished, modern statement rendered with meticulous finesse. Shifting with light and setting, this contempo transforms expectations and adapts to every view.
This contempo captures the form, shape, proportionality, and color of the ancient original, giving the ultimate connection to the ancient piece. Down to the patterns on her wristbands to the nails on her feet, the painting on display is worldclass. There are only 11 limited editions available of this piece.
The original, wooden figure is from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt ca. 1900 B.C. - 1800 B.C and contains many precious materials: inlaid eyes composed of alabaster and obsidian framed in copper from later time periods. In the base of the original lies a black-painted hieroglyphic inscription, "An invocation of bread and beer, oxen and fowl, for the Ka of ...hetep, justified.”
Finished with a high mirror polish and plated for style and longevity, this unique brass piece is inspired by an exceptional Egyptian figure of a royal lady, Hetep.
Through the digital reimagination process, her skin was smoothed out and the dedicatory base she stands on was straightened, in contrast to the painted figure of Hetep that Antico Contempo offers. This is because the piece is uniquely contemporary not only in design but in texture and reflectivity. The outcome is a brilliantly polished, modern statement rendered with meticulous finesse. Shifting with light and setting, this contempo transforms expectations and adapts to every view.
This contempo captures the form, shape, proportionality, and color of the ancient original, giving the ultimate connection to the ancient piece. Down to the patterns on her wristbands to the nails on her feet, the painting on display is worldclass. There are only 11 limited editions available of this piece.
The original, wooden figure is from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt ca. 1900 B.C. - 1800 B.C and contains many precious materials: inlaid eyes composed of alabaster and obsidian framed in copper from later time periods. In the base of the original lies a black-painted hieroglyphic inscription, "An invocation of bread and beer, oxen and fowl, for the Ka of ...hetep, justified.”
Finished with a high mirror polish and plated for style and longevity, this unique brass piece is inspired by an exceptional Egyptian figure of a royal lady, Hetep.
Through the digital reimagination process, her skin was smoothed out and the dedicatory base she stands on was straightened, in contrast to the painted figure of Hetep that Antico Contempo offers. This is because the piece is uniquely contemporary not only in design but in texture and reflectivity. The outcome is a brilliantly polished, modern statement rendered with meticulous finesse. Shifting with light and setting, this contempo transforms expectations and adapts to every view.
This contempo captures the form, shape, proportionality, and color of the ancient original, giving the ultimate connection to the ancient piece. Down to the patterns on her wristbands to the nails on her feet, the painting on display is worldclass. There are only 11 limited editions available of this piece.
The original, wooden figure is from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt ca. 1900 B.C. - 1800 B.C and contains many precious materials: inlaid eyes composed of alabaster and obsidian framed in copper from later time periods. In the base of the original lies a black-painted hieroglyphic inscription, "An invocation of bread and beer, oxen and fowl, for the Ka of ...hetep, justified.”
Ancient Original
Middle Kingdom of Egypt ca. 1900 B.C. - 1800 B.C
Painted Wood, alabaster, obsidian, copper
H: 27 cm (10.7)
Contempo
2025
Cast brass, gold plated, high-mirror polish
H: 30 cm (11 in)
Creation
Our contempos begin with ancient inspiration and are reimagined in New York City.
We digitally refine, sculpt, and adapt ancient figures through intensive digital modeling and sculpting. Then we select the material and scale, combining precise 3D printing and ancient casting and molding techniques. The coloring and the meticulous hand finish to each contempo gives every work a unique and iconic presence.
The creation of the contempo starts with research into authentic masterpieces, allowing Antico Contempo to determine how antiques can be thoughtfully reimagined through a contemporary lens. Every piece is examined to identify its unique qualities and what processes are required for adaptation.
High-resolution 3D scans are captured using structured light and infrared sensing, with real-time refinements made to preserve surface nuances and structural integrity. The raw data is reworked to create watertight, workshop-ready meshes.
Through a meticulous back-and-forth process of digital sculpting, 3D printing, and casting and molding, Antico Contempo creates a physical art piece that combines aesthetics of both the ancient and contemporary world.
This type of statue served as a surrogate for the deceased and could receive offerings, holding the dead’s ka, which was was considered an aspect of the personality or life force of an individual that lived on after death. They were typically placed either in an offering chapel or a tomb, or even inside a coffin, a practice that began in the late Old Kingdom.
Superbly sculpted and depicted standing with her feet together, the separately made arms at her side are pinned in place with wood dowels. She has long delicate fingers and is wearing a tightly fitted sheath dress, revealing the form of her body beneath, with straps covering her breasts. Her wrists and legs are ornamented with elaborate bracelets and anklets. She has a slender nose on a triangular face, a slightly smiling mouth and a pointed chin, with a voluminous, striated, tripartite wig.
