Amulet of a goddess, perhaps Sakhmet

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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

Date

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

West Building (Freer Gallery of Art), Gallery 20: A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt

Related Online Resources

Google Arts & Culture

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National Museum of Asian Art

Data Source

National Museum of Asian Art

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

Metadata Usage