Egypt, Late Period, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A charming and rare faience amulet of a recumbent mother cat with nursing kittens, its surface glazed a dusty pale blue-green hue. The ancient Egyptians held a deep reverence for cats, both tame and wild, large and small. Cats were the most frequently mummified animals in Egypt and were associated with multiple goddesses, including Bastet, the goddess often depicted as a domesticated cat. Statues and amulets like this one were likely offerings or appeals to Bastet, symbolizing fertility, maternal care, and protection, with the cat's alert posture and raised ears emphasizing its protective nature. Size: 0.9" L x 0.5" W x 0.45" H (2.3 cm x 1.3 cm x 1.1 cm)

Part of a collection exhibited at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA), California State University, San Bernardino.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired before 2004; ex-Superior Galleries, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired in 1976; ex-collection of Philip Mitry, noted antiquarian, 1930

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#191456

    Condition:
  • Loss to front paw, but otherwise good condition. Small hole drilled into head, but is not fully drilled through for suspension.

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by Artemis Fine Arts
January 30, 2025 8:00 AM MST
686 S. Taylor Ave., #108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Artemis Fine Arts

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