Lump of Green Feldspar
Unknown Artist
ca. 1153–1147 B.C.
Medium
Green feldspar
Dimensions
L. 1.5 cm (9/16 in.)
Classification
Fragment, Feldspar
Period
New Kingdom, Ramesside
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926
Accession Number
26.7.1060
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art collection, this unassuming *Lump of Green Feld* dates to around 1153–1147 B.C., during the New Kingdom's Ramesside period and Dynasty 20. This, marked by pharaohs like Ramesses, was a time of monumental temple-building and resilient cultural traditions amid foreign threats. Though tiny—measuring just 1.5 cm long—this raw specimen offers a glimpse into the everyday materials that fueled Egypt's masterful craftsmanship. Crafted from vibrant green feldspar, a-precious stone prized in ancient Egypt for its lush color evoking fertile Nile v...