ticketsMember | Make a donation

Mother and "Child"

Second Intermediate Period–Early New Kingdom
ca. 1580–1479 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 109
These female figures are still wrapped in the linen bandages they were buried in some 3,500 years ago. Such objects emphasized aspects of ancient Egyptian femaleness, which were connected to fertility. Therefore, these figures were often placed in burials to help the dead be reborn. Here a mother cuddles her child, signaling to the viewer the idea of birthing and then nurturing a child. It is interesting that this "baby" is not actually shown as an infant, but as a miniature adult woman. She displays developed breasts and sports an elaborate hairdo and jewelry, like her mother. The pair offers a dual interpretation of fertility. They serve not only as an aid in rebirth through female attractiveness, but also to illustrate the state of successful motherhood.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Mother and "Child"
  • Period: Second Intermediate Period–Early New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 17–early 18
  • Date: ca. 1580–1479 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Asasif, East of Pabasa, Burial B44, inside coffin, MMA excavations, 1918–19
  • Medium: pottery, linen, unfired clay, unsaturated oil or resin, seeds
  • Dimensions: mother: H. 18 × W. 6.5 × D. 4.7 cm (7 1/16 × 2 9/16 × 1 7/8 in.); baby: H. approx. 10.5 cm (4 1/8 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1919
  • Object Number: 19.3.190
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Statuette of Huwebenef, Wood
Statuette of Huwebenef
ca. 1550–1479 B.C.
Statuette of Taweret, Limestone, paint
Statuette of Taweret
ca. 1550–1504 B.C.
Statuette of the Child Amenemhab, Bronze, separate silver lotus, wood base with pigmented inlays
Statuette of the Child Amenemhab
ca. 1550–1479 B.C.
Blue-Painted Ibex Amphora from Malqata, pottery, white cream slip, paint
Blue-Painted Ibex Amphora from Malqata
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
Blue-painted Jar from Malqata, pottery, slip, paint
Blue-painted Jar from Malqata
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.