Reel

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of ancient Egypt with *Reel*, a modest yet evocative pottery artifact from the New Kingdom's Ramesside period (. 1295–1070 B.C.), during Dynasties 19–20. just 5.1 cm (2 in.) in diameter, this small-shaped object hails from the height of Egypt's imperial power, an era dominated by pharaohs like Ramesses, whose monumental temples and military campaigns defined the age. Crafted by an unknown artist, it exemplifies the everyday artistry of Egyptian potters, who produced functional items alongside grander works. As a piece of wheel-thrown or hand-formed pottery, *Reel* likely served as a spindle whorl or thread reel, essential for spinning flax into linen—the backbone of Egyptian textiles used in clothing, sails, and mummy wrappings. Its simple, durable form highlights the ingenuity of Ramesside craftspeople, who fired clay at high temperatures for resilience in daily life. Such artifacts offer a window into the labor of non-elite workers, contrasting the era's famed gold and stone masterpieces. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1915 and housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art Department, *Reel* reminds us that ancient Egypt's legacy thrives in these intimate objects, connecting us to the hands that shaped a civilization's fabric—literally.