Middle Kingdom, 2040-1750 BC or later. A bronze cosmetic mirror comprising a bifacial polished disc supported by a standing female goddess and two seated cat figures, each on a tongue-shaped base; the cats addorsed, supporting the rim of the disc on their backs; the handle formed as a goddess wearing tripartite wig and tight-fitting robe, standing barefoot on a square base with chamfered edges. A close parallel to this item is a mirror with its disc supported by two falcons, formerly in the collection of Mrs. W.G. Elias Vaes (1908 – 2002), Rotterdam, The Netherlands, sold at Christie’s London, October 2014, lot 162.403 grams, 20cm (8"). Property of a Dutch private collector; previously in a Belgian private collection, circa 1965; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10374-167816. The association of a goddess with cats suggests identification with Bastet, the mild and benevolent feline deity whose ferocious counterpart, Sekhmet, promoted aggression and combat. The goddess's flexed arms indicate the hieroglyph ka, the concept of life-force sometimes interpreted as the living soul. The polished bronze disc connects to the bright sun and the god Re.