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Source Description

This steatite amulet is incised with sunk relief designs on both the front and back. The carvings on the front depict a sphinx, while those on the back show a duck. The figures fill most of the image field, and empty spaces above the backs display floral elements. Hatch and crossed line patterns define the inner structures. The workmanship is slightly rough and the piece is simply made.This amulet had divine kingship connotations, and was originally mounted or threaded. It could be a rotating element of a ring with two different focuses: It should ensure magical protection as well as regeneration for its owner.The representation of a duck with head bent back is typical for the early 18th Dynasty, and double-sided decorated oval plaques for the reign of Thutmosis III (1479-1425 BC)-Amenophis III (1388-1351/1350 BC). However, this plaque belongs not to the standard types. Most of the duck representations are scaraboids, and not incised figures on a plaque, and the figure of the jumping/running hawk-headed sphinx is very unusual, as are the attached elements. The only comparison to the jumping/running posture one can find is in images of running lions.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
12193
label
Plaque with Sphinx and Duck
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
5
Source metadata
id
12193
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Plaque with Sphinx and Duck
description
This steatite amulet is incised with sunk relief designs on both the front and back. The carvings on the front depict a sphinx, while those on the back show a duck. The figures fill most of the image field, and empty spaces above the backs display floral elements. Hatch and crossed line patterns define the inner structures. The workmanship is slightly rough and the piece is simply made.This amulet had divine kingship connotations, and was originally mounted or threaded. It could be a rotating element of a ring with two different focuses: It should ensure magical protection as well as regeneration for its owner.The representation of a duck with head bent back is typical for the early 18th Dynasty, and double-sided decorated oval plaques for the reign of Thutmosis III (1479-1425 BC)-Amenophis III (1388-1351/1350 BC). However, this plaque belongs not to the standard types. Most of the duck representations are scaraboids, and not incised figures on a plaque, and the figure of the jumping/running hawk-headed sphinx is very unusual, as are the attached elements. The only comparison to the jumping/running posture one can find is in images of running lions.
provenance
Henry Walters, New York [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Sadie Jones (Mrs. Henry Walters), New York, 1931, by inheritance; Mrs. Henry Walters Sale, Joseph Brummer, New York, 1942; Walters Art Museum, 1942, by purchase.
date
1550-1390 BCE (New Kingdom; Thumoside)
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Precious Stones & Gems
amulets
plaques (flat objects)
intaglios
imageCount
5
pageCount
5
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
0.4
height
1.2
depth
1.6
dimensionsRaw
H: 3/16 x W: 1/2 x L: 5/8 in. (0.4 x 1.2 x 1.6 cm)
Source extras
cul
Egyptian
dynasty
18th Dynasty
med
light brown steatite
creator_ids
6182
3930
2594
collection_ids
EGY
ANE
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
049cff93e5ba2584
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
85c9db8c857ab5d9
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
1c42c550f3dcd3b7
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
17d82d096d05f709
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
5
type
photo
mediaId
937abd04a83969c4
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no