Finial with Figure of the God Bes
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
Bes was popularly worshipped as protector of women and infants, and as a facilitator of fertility. Shown standing on the head and shoulders of a woman with a baby, in Bes with Lute the god protects the mother and newborn by driving away potential harm with the sounds of his musical instrument. The large, round ears and facial folds seen on the Finial are reminiscent of a snarling lion and connect Bes with powerful felines. Because Bes was a multifaceted god who offered protection during such times of transition as pregnancy and birth, women wore his images, like the Amulet, while giving birth or during rites of passage.
MEDIUM
Bronze
DATES
ca. 1075–656 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
Dynasty 21 to Dynasty 25
PERIOD
Third Intermediate Period
DIMENSIONS
15 15/16 x 2 13/16 in. (40.5 x 7.2 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
46.127
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
PROVENANCE
Archaeological provenance not yet documented; by December 1926, acquired by M.A. Mansoor; December 17, 1926, sold at Sotheby's, London, "Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek and Roman Antiquities" lot 222; between 1926 and 1936, provenance not yet documented; before July 1936, acquired by an unidentified collector; July 28, 1936, purchased at Sotheby's "Egyptian, Greek, Indian and Roman Antiquities Native Art etc.," lot 20 by the Brummer Gallery, New York, NY; June 27, 1946, purchased from the Brummer Gallery (P13050) by the Brooklyn Museum.
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CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Bronze figure of the god Bes on papyrus column with swelling shaft and plain capital in the form of papyrus umbel. The god is nude and represented with broad face and lion's mane and ears, crowned with feather crown consisting of five plumes on the back of each of which is a ring. The left hand rests on his thigh, the right is raised, palm outward. A lion's tail growing from his body, in back reaches to the papyrus umbel. The figure apparently solid-cast in one piece with papyrus umbel which is fitted to separately cast hollow column. Crown also separately cast and inserted in head. All details apparently present in wax model.
Condition: Practically perfect.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Egyptian. Finial with Figure of the God Bes, ca. 1075–656 B.C.E. Bronze, 15 15/16 x 2 13/16 in. (40.5 x 7.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 46.127. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 46.127_SL3.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 46.127_SL3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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