Collections: Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art: Figure of Osiris

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Figure of Osiris

This statuette, one of whose eyes was repaired in ancient times, may have been a pious gift to one of the temples associated with the important animal cemeteries at Saqqara. For information on so-called sacred animals and the god Osiris, see the installations in Temples, Tombs, and the Egyptian Universe.

Medium: Wood, gessoed and gilded, with inlaid eyes and additional parts of bronze and electrum
Place Made: Saqqara, Egypt
Dates: 4th century B.C.E. or later (probably)
Dynasty: XXVI Dynasty or later
Period: Late Period-Ptolemaic Period
Dimensions: 7 13/16 x 2 3/8 x 1 9/16 in. (19.9 x 6.1 x 4 cm) (show scale)

Collections:Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum Location: This item is not on view
Accession Number: 37.1374E
Credit Line: Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Rights Statement: Creative Commons-BY-NC
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Caption: Figure of Osiris, 4th century B.C.E. or later (probably). Wood, gessoed and gilded, with inlaid eyes and additional parts of bronze and electrum, 7 13/16 x 2 3/8 x 1 9/16 in. (19.9 x 6.1 x 4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1374E. Creative Commons-BY-NC
Image: installation, West Wing gallery 8 installation, CUR.37.1374E_wwg8.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don't yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

Catalogue Description: One wooden figure of Osiris, gessoed and gilded. He is shown mummiforn, wearing the white crown with slots for feathers. The eyes are inlaid as is the chin strap, the beard is now missing. He holds an electrum flail. A bronze uraeus is set into the crown and tenon descends from the feet. Condition: The gilding is flaking off the front and sides, especially on the lower left. The figure is lacking a crook or flail. Superficial cracks lace the front. Some gilding has disappeared. Linen underlayers are visible in the area of the crown. The eyes are stable but some inlay is missing from the beard. Bronze feathers are missing from the atef.
Record Completeness: Best (82%)
Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.

Saqquara [x]		gilded [x]
wood [x]		sculpture [x]
statue [x]		egyptian [x]
osiris [x]		egypt [x]

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