Egyptian
A large Egyptian turquoise faience amulet of a cat, Late Period, circa 664 - 30 BC
Faience
Height: 8 cm
The animal is seated in an upright, alert stance, glazed in bright blue faience, with black-painted spots on its chest, neck, back, top of head, and eyes. There is a...
The animal is seated in an upright, alert stance, glazed in bright blue faience, with black-painted spots on its chest, neck, back, top of head, and eyes. There is a suspension loop at the back of the neck.
Condition:
The amulet has some surface wear to the glaze, and some minor chipping. The ears are restored. The figure is glued to the base.
Condition:
The amulet has some surface wear to the glaze, and some minor chipping. The ears are restored. The figure is glued to the base.
Provenance
With Altemo Etablissement, Vaduz, Liechtenstein, 1980s
With Galerie Nefer, Zurich, acquired from the above in 1991
Private collection, Switzerland, acquired from the above
Exhibitions
On Loan: Antikenmuseum Basel & Sammlung Ludwig, 1998 - 2022Literature
This elegant and characterful sculpture likely represents a temple cat, sacred to the goddess Bastet. Amulets such as this were worn in life, as well as in funerary contexts as protective amulets. Bastet was very popular from the Third Intermediate Period onwards and was venerated throughout Egypt, offering special protection to the family home, women in childbirth, and small children. Her main shrine stood at Bubastis (Tell Basta).For two mother cat and kitten amulets with a similar spotted glaze, dated to the Third Intermediate Period, see the Metropolitan Museum of Art, acc. nos. 15.43.23; 44.4.40. This example with its stylised body probably dates to the Late Dynastic Period or Ptolemaic Egypyt, For further discussion see C. Andrews, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, p. 33.