Animal Coffin
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
Some wooden animal mummy coffins have symbolic shapes. The cartouche shape signifies a protective enclosure and is also used in hieroglyphic writing to enclose and protect the king’s name. The obelisk shape relates both to the sun god and to an Egyptian word meaning “ibis,” one of the most common types of animal mummies.
CT scans of these two coffins have revealed poorly preserved remains inside that could not be identified.
MEDIUM
Wood, linen, resin, gold leaf, animal remains or stones
DATES
664–332 B.C.E.
PERIOD
Late Period
DIMENSIONS
2 3/8 x 2 3/8 x 6 1/2 in. (6 x 6 x 16.5 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
37.1361E
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Animal Coffin, 664–332 B.C.E. Wood, linen, resin, gold leaf, animal remains or stones, 2 3/8 x 2 3/8 x 6 1/2 in. (6 x 6 x 16.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1361E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth,er), 37.1361E_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 37.1361E_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph (Gavin Ashworth, photographer), 2012
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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we welcome any additional information you might have.
Could you please tell me a little more about this object? Is there any provenance? Do you know what kind of bones inside?
Unfortunately the bones in this coffin could not be identified, they are too degraded. The Brooklyn Museum acquired this coffin and its contents from the New York Historical Society in 1937.
Great! Thanks so much
