Blue faience sow amulet

Culture

Egyptian, Late period, c. 664-332 BC

Size

2,9 cm wide, 1,5 cm high (without base)

Provenance

Dutch Private Collection, Ex Gorny & Mosch.

Dr. Hans Halter, Swiss collection before 1966. In EU collection since 2006. 

Description

A small but fine blue faience pendant of a sow. Head reaching low, ears back and legs forward. Underside markings visible.

The sow was linked to the sky goddess Nut, who was said to bring forth the stars each night and consume them again at sunrise. Because of the animal’s tendency to eat its own young, Nut was occasionally depicted in the form of a sow. Even so, she was primarily understood as a caring and protective maternal figure. This small sow-shaped object, fitted with a loop at the top, was likely worn as an amulet meant to offer protection. 

Amulets were often placed in mummy wrappings or tombs to help the deceased navigate the afterlife safely. They were thought to provide protection, restore bodily functions, and ensure rebirth.

Publications

Gorny and Mosch Catalogue auction 316, page 2.

Condition

Base has a glued break line. Sow itself appears intact, except for the missing suspension ring on its back. 

Parallels

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/329776 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/545262 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/243772 

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010011527 

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010011483 

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/134043/amulet-of-a-sow?ctx=c0f2dc51-5a6e-438a-908a-9cfb9f18b9cf&idx=1

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010012407 

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010074309 

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_EA64609 

Price

€ 950