Details

Object type

head of an Egyptian queen

Place Associated

Egypt (place made)

Date

18th Dynasty (1550-1295 BC)

Materials

schist

Dimensions

overall: 166 mm x 191 mm x 133 mm 5395 g

Description

This Egyptian queen is shown wearing a vulture cap with a rising cobra – a uraeus– at the front over a large wig. The vulture was associated with the goddess Nekhbet and the cobra with the goddess Wadjet. The feet of the vulture hold shen rings – a hieroglyph symbolizing eternal protection. The statue is broken below the line of the shoulders but the missing part of the wig may originally have had the curled ends of the hairstyle associated with the goddess Hathor.

As the Egyptians considered their pharaoh to be a living god, members of the royal family were often depicted with symbols associated with gods and goddesses.

Provenance: GF Williams, London; from whom purchased by Sir William Burrell on 1 December 1948.

Credit Line/Donor

Gifted by Sir William and Lady Burrell to the City of Glasgow, 1944

Collection

Burrell Collection: Egyptian Items

ID Number

13.132

Location

Burrell Collection