Self ahead of Self

Inspired by the ancient Egyptian concept of the soul which consists of five parts (Ib, Sheut, Ren, Ba and Ka). The Ba symbolizes the spirit of an individual or their personality where the Sheut is the eternal shadow of a person:

“In the light of the life-giving sun, body and shadow are inseparable. The Sheut is not an ordinary shadow of a body, it rather belonged to the world of the ‘soul’, moving independently of its body and partaking of funerary offerings.” - D. Annadurai

This piece depicts a scene where the Ba and the Sheut are together, where the shadow of a person is always with them and contains the essence of themselves. The Sheut also signifies the mark that someone leaves on the world and is also depicted as a figure of death painted completely black. It was believed that a person could not exist without a shadow, nor even a shadow without a person, therefore Egyptians surmised that a shadow contained something of the person it represents. This piece celebrates individuality. (What makes you essentially and uniquely *you*? What mark will you leave upon the world?)

Hand-fabricated in sterling silver, copper and brass. Hand-drawn and acid-etched image that is cold-connected and moves (to simulate rising, flapping of wings), set with a sunstone, patina/matte finish. 18” vintage copper chain.

Materials: Sterling .925, brass, copper, patina, sunstone , 18" vintage copper chain
Size: 2.5" high x 2" wide (massive)

A polishing cloth is included and the item is packaged carefully and shipped via priority mail in the States or First Class International Package rates overseas.

Artwork by J.Chen 2021. All rights reserved.