amulet;
figure
- Description
-
Mould-made amuletic figure in glazed composition, probably representing the Egyptian goddess Nephthys; standing on small rectangular base, with both arms along her body; wearing long garment; head possibly topped with her characteristic headdress in the shape of a house and basket, but representation too simplified and schematic to be certain; very crude modelling; light turquoise glaze encrusted with earth; complete.
- Production date
- 6thC BC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 2.50 centimetres
-
Thickness: 0.60 centimetres
-
Width: 1.10 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Amulets of Nephthys are very rare before the 26th dynasty. This amulet of funerary connotation is usually found in association with an Isis amulet in the area of the upper torso of the mummy (Andrews 1994, 48).
On Nephthys amulets see: Andrews 1994, 48; Herrmann et al. 2010, 33 (type 6).
Considering its context of discovery, it should be dated to the 26th dynasty. However, the registers of the Museum of Fine Arts tend to allocate the Scarab Factory as a findspot for not only scarabs, scaraboids and their moulds, but also all types of amulets from Naukratis. Caution is therefore required for the dating and the findspot. Let's note that the records written (or at least supervised) by Amelia Edwards mention the Scarab Factory as the findspot too.
Andrews, C. 1994, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London.
Herrmann, C., Staubli, T., Berger-Lober, S., Keel, O., Schönbächler, G. 2010, 1001 Amulett : altägyptischer Zauber, monotheisierte Talismane, säkulare Magie, Bibel+Orient-Museum, Liebefeld, Stuttgart.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Rather fair
- Acquisition date
- 1886
- Department
- External
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: Eg.Inv.3901 (Egyptian inventory number)
-
Miscellaneous number: P.5270 (Pottery & Porcelain Ledger No.)
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Miscellaneous number: RES.86.325 (Accession Number)
