String of Beads with Feline-head Amulets

Unknown

ca. 1550–1425 B.C. · Gold, Egyptian blue · Egyptian Art

The use of feline's-head ornaments in jewelry is well known from the Twelfth Dynasty (ca. 1981-1802 B.C.) and continues in the early Eighteenth Dynasty. It is difficult to identify the type of cat that the Egyptians had in mind, although most seem to be leopards, an animal that, in the Middle Kingdom, has apotropaic properties. For a feline-head ring in the collection see 26.7.773.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1550–1425 B.C.

Medium

Gold, Egyptian blue

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926