Hedgehog Seal with device of a horse
Unknown Artist
ca. 1295–1185 B.C.
Medium
Steatite, green glaze
Dimensions
L. 1.6 × W. 1.2 × H. 0.8 cm (5/8 × 1/2 × 5/16 in.)
Classification
Seal
Period
New Kingdom, Ramesside
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
Accession Number
30.8.846
Art Historical Context
This diminutive hedgehog seal, crafted around 1295–1185 B.C. during Egypt's New Kingdom Ramesside period (Dynasty 19), the exquisite miniature artistry of ancient Egyptian craftsmen. Carved from steatite soft, soapstone-like material ideal for intricate detailing—and coated in a vibrant green glaze it measures just 1.6 cm long, fitting easily into the palm of a hand. The hedgehog form, with its prickly texture likely rendered in fine relief, bears an engraved "device" of a horse on its base, used to imprint ownership marks on clay sealings or documents. Seals like this were essential administ...