Bast Amulet
n.d.
Medium
Decorative Arts-Glass
Classification
Decorative Arts-Glass
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly
Accession Number
1929.8.166.1
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection of decorative arts, the *Bast Amulet* a delicate glass artifact gifted by collector John Gellatly.ed by an unidentified artist and undated, this small talisman captures the essence of ancient reverence through its translucent medium. Glasswork like this was prized in antiquity for mimicking gemstones, offering an accessible yet luminous beauty that symbolized protection and divinity. Depicting Bast—more commonly known as Bastet, the Egyptian cat goddess—this amulet embodies profound cultural importance. Bastet was revered as a guardian...
About the Artist
Unidentified ( ) · –