Jackal
Unknown Artist
664–30 B.C.
Medium
Cupreous metal
Dimensions
L. 5.1 × W. 1.1 × H. 3.3 cm (1 5/16× 7/8 × 7/8 in.)
Classification
Figurine, jackal
Period
Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Lily S. Place, 1923
Accession Number
23.6.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
This petite figurine, titled *Jackal*, hails from Egypt's Late Period to Ptolemaic era (664–30 B.C.), a time when ancient traditions blended with Hellenistic influences under Ptolemaic rule. Crafted from cupreous metal—a copper-based alloy prized for its durability and golden sheen—this 5.1 cm long sculpture captures the sleek form of a jackal in exquisite detail. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1923 by Lily S. Place, it exemplifies the fine metalwork of Egyptian artisans, who often cast such small objects using lost-wax techniques to create lifelike animal forms. In ancient Egyp...