Blue-Painted Jar Fragment from Malqata
Unknown Artist
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
Medium
Pottery, slip, paint
Dimensions
H. 25.7 × W. 25 cm (10 1/8 × 9 13/16 in.)
Classification
Blue-painted jar fragment, bull leaping
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1912
Accession Number
12.180.33
Tags
Art Historical Context
This captivating fragment of a blue-painted jarails from Malqata, the sprawling palace complex of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in Egypt's New Kingdom (Dynasty 18, ca. 1390–1352 B.C.). Discovered amid the opulent remains of this royal residence on the west bank of Thebes, it offers a glimpse into the luxurious daily life of Egypt's golden age. Measuring about 10 inches high and wide, the shard preserves vibrant blue decoration on pottery, including motifs of cows—powerful symbols of fertility, nourishment, and the goddess Hath in Egyptian culture. Crafted with slip (a liquid clay mixture) and applied...