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Scaraboid in the Form of a Duck

A work made of glazed steatite.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of glazed steatite.

Date:

New Kingdom, Dynasty 18 (about 1550–1295 BCE)

Artist:

Egyptian

About this artwork

With intricately carved “feathers” beneath its bright blue glaze, this scaraboid (a type of amulet), depicts a duck resting its head upon its back. It may represent a sleeping duck, inviting associations of awakening after one’s rebirth into the afterlife. The small charm may also reflect ducks’ popularity as a food source in ancient Egypt. A scaraboid was a common tomb offering to sustain the dead, and this one may represent a duck that has been prepared for feasting. Objects like this one derive their name from the beetle-shaped scarab amulets they resemble. Both types of carvings feature inscriptions on their undersides: phrases, names, or images of animals or deities, intended to help bring about good luck and renewal. These patterns could also be used as personal or institutional stamp seals.

The inscription on the bottom of this scaraboid shows cobras flanking a sistrum—a percussive rattle shaken during rituals to calm deities—with the head of the goddess Hathor. Both she and the sistrum were associated with fertility and protection. The owner of this piece would enjoy the protections offered by both the inscription and the duck.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Artist

Ancient Egyptian

Title

Scaraboid in the Form of a Duck

Place

Egypt (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1550 BCE–1295 BCE

Medium

Glazed steatite

Dimensions

1 × 1.3 × 1.8 cm (7/16 × 9/16 × 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Charles L. Hutchinson

Reference Number

1894.1901

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/134514/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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