Amulet in the form of a head of an elephant

Art Historical Context

This delicate amulet, carved in the form of an elephant's head, dates to Egypt's Predynastic Naqada II period (. 3500–3300 B.C.), a time of remarkable cultural flourishing just before the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Crafted from serpentinite—a, green stone prized for its workability—and inlaid with bone for the eyes and tusks, it measures a mere 3.5 cm high, suggesting it was worn as a protective pendant on a necklace or bracelet. Such small-scale carvings highlight the era's sophisticated lapidary skills, where artisans transformed hard stones into intricate forms using simple tools...