Artheon MuseumArtheonMuseum

Sealing

Unknown Artist

ca. 2030–1640 B.C.

Sealing by Unknown Artist

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...

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