Box for animal mummy surmounted by a cat, inscribed

About this artwork

This work from Late Period–Ptolemaic Period, dating to 664–30 B.C., provides valuable insight into the artistic practices and material culture of its era. Cast or worked in cupreous metal, this piece exemplifies sophisticated metalworking traditions. The creation of metal objects involved complex processes including casting, chasing, engraving, and finishing that required years of apprenticeship and specialized knowledge. The object's dimensions—l. 34.7 × w. 8 × h. 17.6 cm—reflect both practical...

Art Historical Context

This elegant box for an animal mummy, crafted in cupreous metal during Egypt’s Late Period to Ptolemaic Period (664–30 B.C.), reflects the era’s deep reverence for sacred animals. Surmounted by a seated cat and inscribed with hieroglyphs, container was designed to hold the carefully preserved remains of a feline, a creature closely associated with protection and divinity in ancient Egyptian belief. Such votive offerings were common in temples, where devotees presented mummified animals as acts of piety. Measuring just over 34 centimeters in length, the work demonstrates sophisticated metalwor...