Stela of Tsanna
1 of 13
Object Label
The shift in our perception of objects when they are displayed as part of a museum collection can sometimes elevate a practical piece into an art object. On deli counters in the 1940s, this commercial meat slicer would have evoked cleanliness, efficiency, and modernity. In an exhibition, it becomes an almost abstract piece of streamlined design.
Caption
Coptic. Stela of Tsanna, 8th century C.E.. Limestone, pigment, 17 11/16 x 13 3/8 x 3 5/16 in. (45 x 34 x 8.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.74.2. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Gallery
Not on view
Culture
Title
Stela of Tsanna
Date
8th century C.E.
Period
Umayyad Period to Tulunid Period
Geography
Place found: Esna, Egypt
Medium
Limestone, pigment
Classification
Dimensions
17 11/16 x 13 3/8 x 3 5/16 in. (45 x 34 x 8.4 cm)
Inscriptions
Epitaph in Coptic, "Tsanna [Suzanne] (daughter of) Pachôns," as translated by the Index of Christian Art.
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
69.74.2
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