Object Details
- Label
- This is an amulet in the form of a striding female deity whose image combines the body of a woman with the head of a lioness. She wears an ankle-length sheath gown and tripartite wig; on her head is a sun disk with uraeus, the cobra-like serpent representing the radiance of the sun god.
- The amulet depicts either the goddess Sakhmet or the goddess Bastet. Sakmet, a lion-headed goddess, was a symbol of power and protection for the Egyptian king. Bastet was the feline-headed, benevolent counterpart of Sakhmet. If no accompanying inscription identifies the figure, as in the case of this amulet, it can be difficult to tell which goddess is represented.
- Provenance
- To 1906-1907
- Unidentified owner, Egypt, to 1906-1907 [1]
- From 1906-1907 to 1919
- Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased in Egypt in from an unidentified owner the winter of 1906-1907 [2]
- From 1920
- Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
- Notes:
- [1] See Original Pottery List, L. 1850, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
- [2] See note 1.
- [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
- Collection
- Freer Gallery of Art Collection
- Exhibition History
- A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt (January 28, 2023 to 2025)
- Charles Lang Freer and Egypt (June 13, 1998 to October 2, 2011)
- Art of Dynastic Egypt (December 15, 1976 to September 22, 1977)
- Previous custodian or owner
- Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Charles Lang Freer
- ca. 1075-656 BCE or later
- Period
- Third Intermediate Period, Possibly Saite Dynasty 26
- Accession Number
- F1907.30
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Jewelry and Ornament
- Medium
- Faience (glazed composition)
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 10.3 x 2 x 3.2 cm (4 1/16 x 13/16 x 1 1/4 in)
- Origin
- Egypt
- On View
- Freer Gallery 20: A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt
- Related Online Resources
- Google Cultural Institute
- See more items in
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Topic
- faience
- Third Intermediate Period (ca. 1075 - 656 BCE)
- Saite Dynasty 26 (664 - 525 BCE)
- Egypt
- Sakhmet
- Ancient Egyptian Art
- protection
- Charles Lang Freer collection
- Record ID
- fsg_F1907.30
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye356ef3a8e-c76f-4d85-b87e-c933790e42fc
