The 3,000-year-old sarcophagus of an Egyptian princess is one of the standout objects at this year’s Frieze Masters. It is “the only royal Egyptian sarcophagus to ever be offered for sale on the art market”, according to Salomon Aaron, the director of David Aaron.
The 2m-tall inner sarcophagus once held the remains of Princess Sopdet-em-haawt, the daughter and granddaughter of two kings who ruled Egyptian territory around the 7th century BC. The sarcophagus previously sold for $1m (with fees) at Sotheby’s New York in 2013. Its price is now “substantially more”, Aaron says.
Since the Sotheby’s sale, research has uncovered more about the princess and her family. Cleaning and restoration work has also revealed the object to be in better condition than previously believed, Aaron says. “It falls into that category of the very best ancient artwork accompanied by an illustrious, impeccable provenance. The market for such objects is increasingly strong because people want to acquire the best.”
