Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Head from a Statuette of Zeus Serapis

1st century C.E.

1 of 9

Caption

Head from a Statuette of Zeus Serapis, 1st century C.E.. Faience, 3 7/8 x 2 7/8 x 2 3/8 in. (9.8 x 7.3 x 6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 58.79.1. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Head from a Statuette of Zeus Serapis

Date

1st century C.E.

Period

Late Ptolemaic Period

Geography

Place made: Egypt

Medium

Faience

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

3 7/8 x 2 7/8 x 2 3/8 in. (9.8 x 7.3 x 6 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

58.79.1

Frequent Art Questions

  • Could you tell me how faience was made?

    Faience is a man-made mixture of "ground quartz or quartz-sand held together by and alkaline binder. The bright and shiny surface seen on this figurine is a result of glazing. The glaze was made of a form of powdered glass mixed with a liquid and applied either with a brush or by dipping the entire figurine.
    It gets it's blue color from copper that is mixed into or applied to the surface of the quartz body before firing.

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