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Reclining Dog

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
Buried in a tomb, this charming figure of a dog served as the deceased’s beloved companion and guardian in the afterlife. Relief inscriptions relate that dogs were sometimes given names reflecting special skills (“Good Watcher”), appearance (“Ebony”), or personality traits (“Trusty,” “Useless”).
MEDIUM Faience
  • Place Excavated: Harageh, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1938–1700 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 12 to early 13 Dynasty
    PERIOD Middle Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 13/16 x 1 15/16 x 1 1/2 in. (2 x 4.9 x 3.8 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 14.659
    CREDIT LINE Museum Collection Fund
    PROVENANCE Tomb No. 56, Harageh, Egypt; 1913-14, excavated by the British School of Archaeology; 1914, purchased from the British School of Archaeology by the Brooklyn Museum.
    Provenance FAQ
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Small blue-green glazed faience figure of a dog reclining on a small base. Condition: Bad, object assembled from at least two pieces. Glaze almost entirely gone with miniature portions of original brilliant blue remaining on head of dog and under side of base. Base extensively chipped.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
    CAPTION Reclining Dog, ca. 1938–1700 B.C.E. Faience, 13/16 x 1 15/16 x 1 1/2 in. (2 x 4.9 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 14.659. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.14.659_view1_erg2.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, CUR.14.659_view1_erg2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 10/23/2007
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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