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Collections: Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art: Jar Lid with Human Face

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Jar Lid with Human Face

The absence of any trace of shoulders indicates that this limestone head was never part of a complete sculpture. It probably served as the lid of a canopic jar, a vessel containing a corpse's vital organs that were removed during mummification. The artist who carved this face followed the dominant style of mid-Dynasty 12, including full, fleshy cheeks, wide open eyes with a high, arcing upper lid, and an overall sense of serenity.

Medium: Limestone
Place Made: Egypt
Dates: ca. 1876-1837 B.C.E.
Dynasty: middle XII Dynasty
Period: Middle Kingdom
Dimensions: 4 x 4 7/16 x 4 1/16 in. (10.2 x 11.2 x 10.3 cm)
Collections: Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art
Museum Location: This item is on view in Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity, Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
Accession Number: 87.78
Credit Line: Purchased with Funds given by Christos G. Bastis and the Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Image: Overall, 87.78_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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jibbajabba (3)
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lillie (5)
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