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Small Statue of the Goddess Isis Nursing the Child Horus

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

MEDIUM Bronze
  • Place Made: Egypt
  • DATES 664-525 B.C.E. or 305-30 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 26 or later
    PERIOD Late Period, Saite Period or Ptolemaic Period
    DIMENSIONS 37.591Ea: 5 1/16 × 1 9/16 × 2 1/4 in. (12.9 × 4 × 5.8 cm) 37.591Eb: 1 5/8 × 1/2 × 1 11/16 in. (4.1 × 1.3 × 4.3 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 37.591Ea-b
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    PROVENANCE Archaeological provenance not yet documented; by 1876, acquired by Edwin Smith of Luxor, Egypt; April 27, 1906, inherited from Edwin Smith by Leonora Smith; May 1907, gift of Leonora Smith to the New-York Historical Society, New York, NY; 1937, loaned by the New-York Historical Society to the Brooklyn Museum; 1948, purchased from the New-York Historical Society by the Brooklyn Museum.
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    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION The goddess holds right hand to left breast. Left forearm is extended to support Horus. Goddess wears a lappet wig with uraeus. From the top of the wig springs circular frieze of uraei from which rises cow’s horns and disk. Hole in goddess’ lap for the insertion of tenon of Horus. Broad collar, double crown are shown. A tenon descend vertically from buttocks. The uraeus on the brow of the goddess also the headdress of Horus and a disk. The god does not wear amulets, bracelets and anklets. The child wears the double crown of Egypt and an amulet suspended below his broad collar. A rounded knob-like tang under the thighs, and another under the thin bases served for attachment to the lost seat. A tang on the Horus figure was the means of fastening it to the lap of Isis. Condition: a) Brown/black patina highlighted here and there by cuprite deposits. Surface covered with lead salts esp. dowel hole for insertion of b. The figure shows some evidence of modern feeling, especially about the tang. b.) Dowel lead carbonate incrusted. Little superficial pitting.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Small Statue of the Goddess Isis Nursing the Child Horus, 664-525 B.C.E. or 305-30 B.C.E. Bronze, 37.591Ea: 5 1/16 × 1 9/16 × 2 1/4 in. (12.9 × 4 × 5.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.591Ea-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.591E_PS11.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 37.591E_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2023
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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