Egypt
Cupreous alloy, gilding, formerly inlaid
H. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm), H. of face (forehead to chin) 2 in. (5.2 cm), H. of modius 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm), D. 5 1/2 in. total (14 cm) including 1 in. (2.5 cm) of perpendicular attachment element extending beyond headdress
Purchase, Liana Weindling Gift, in memory of her mother, 2008 (2008.353)
Images of gods were carried out of temples on festival days on processional barque-shrines. Most often the image itself was concealed, but sculpted heads at the prow and stern identified the god to the populace. This large female head was gilded and inlaid and originally wore the double crown of Amun's consort, Mut, as well as the double uraeus that was a hallmark of queenlike goddesses. Judging from the arrangement of the long front locks of her wig, this sculpture would have appeared at the prow of Mut's barque-shrine; if it had been intended for the stern, the hair would have projected forward, allowing it to fit along the horizontal surface of the barque in front of the goddess' head.
Related
Index Terms
Art Movement/Style
Material and Technique
- Copper
- Glass
- Glass from Africa and Egypt
- Sculpture in the Round from Africa
- Sculpture in the Round from Egypt and Western North America
