EGYPTIAN CARVED STONE FIGURE OF A SARCOPHAGUS

18th-early 19th century. Made for Grand Tour visitors and probably sold as genuine at the time. 7 1/4” height representing pharaonic figure with beard and desert hood.  the torso with a figure of the ankh. The back recessed as with the originals. The nose, beard and feet chipped as found on ancient originals. The chipping of figures and statues was recently noted to widespread and uniform, leading to the conclusion that it was done deliberately, perhaps to destroy the identity and thus spirit of the figure represented. The cause is not yet known, but the custom is well recognized and discussed in detail on the internet.  Charming and a centuries-old figure.