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Dish with Two Geese

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Though actual ducks and geese could be mummified and included in the tomb as food offerings, more commonly plates in the form of prized food animals were buried with the deceased. This dish shows two geese with necks and bodies entwined.
MEDIUM Steatite
  • Place Made: Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1539-1190 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 18 to Dynasty 19
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 8 1/4 x 5 1/2 x 1 in. (20.9 x 13.9 x 2.5 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 05.312
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    PROVENANCE Archaeological provenance not yet documented; by 1904-1905, acquired by Maurice Nahman of Cairo, Egypt; 1904-1905, purchased from Maurice Nahman by W. Flinders Petrie for the Brooklyn Museum.
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    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Ovoid steatite dish with underside carved in the form of two geese, the heads forming the handle. The dish is a good example of New Kingdom stonework. The entire outer side is decorated with a pattern in imitation of feathers. The legs are indicated by incisions, the heads are in the round. The dish may be a toilet object but this is unlikely. Condition: Upper portion assembled from several fragments, one small fragment missing from center end of dish. Surface soiled and should be cleaned. Various minor chips.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Dish with Two Geese, ca. 1539-1190 B.C.E. Steatite, 8 1/4 x 5 1/2 x 1 in. (20.9 x 13.9 x 2.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 05.312. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 05.312_front_PS2.jpg)
    IMAGE front, 05.312_front_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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