Sealing
Unknown Artist
ca. 2030–1640 B.C.
Medium
Clay (unfired)
Classification
Sealing
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1914
Accession Number
14.3.278
Art Historical Context
Step into the bustling world of Middle Kingdom Egypt with this intriguing *Sealing*, crafted from unfired clay around 2030–1640 B.C. during Dynasties 12–13. As a humble yet vital artifact from ancient Egyptian administration, it represents the impression left by a seal—likely a scarab or cylinder—pressed into soft clay to secure doors, jars, or documents. This simple technique ensured that only authorized individuals could access goods or papyri, reflecting the era's sophisticated bureaucracy and emphasis on order after the chaos of the First Intermediate Period. Unfired clay was ideal for th...