Bes Amulet
Unknown Artist
ca. 1550–1295 B.C.
Medium
Faience
Dimensions
H. 2.4 × W. 1.2 × Th. 0.5 cm (15/16 × 1/2 × 3/16 in.)
Classification
Amulet, Bes
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Albert M. Lythgoe, 1917
Accession Number
17.6.130
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Egyptian Art collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this *Bes Amulet* (ca. 1550–1295 B.C.) the New Kingdom's masterful miniature artistry. Crafted from faience—a glazed, colorful ceramic mimicking lapis lazuli or turquoise—this 2.4 cm tall talisman was produced during Dynasty 18, a golden age of Egyptian power and innovation under pharaohs like Hatshepsut and Tutankhamun. Its vibrant blue-green hue and compact form (H. 2.4 × W. 1.2 × Th. 0.5 cm) made it ideal for personal wear or household use. Bes, the amulet's subject, was a beloved household deity depicted as a grinni...