Cat Coffin
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
MEDIUM
Wood, gesso, animal remains
DATES
664 B.C.E. or later
PERIOD
Late Period or later
DIMENSIONS
11 5/8 x 3 5/16 x 5 5/16 in. (29.6 x 8.4 x 13.5 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
37.1940E
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
The coffin container is fashioned as a funerary sculpture of a seated cat. Short incised lines mimicking fur appear on its body.
The cat is seated upright, supported by two bases. In the back, the base is made up of its tail end seated on the floor. In the front, the cat’s two front paws, joined at the base, extend forward and away from the body. There is no protruding tail on its own. The contours of the body and head are emphasized by close molding. The ears are large and stick up from the head. The sculpture depicts the eye cavities, the bones of the nose, and a small horizontal opening of the mouth. The rounded chest puffs out. The individual toes of its front paws are carved.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Cat Coffin, 664 B.C.E. or later. Wood, gesso, animal remains, 11 5/8 x 3 5/16 x 5 5/16 in. (29.6 x 8.4 x 13.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1940E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1940E_threequarterright_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
37.1940E_threequarterright_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2016
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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