<em>Fragment of "Magic Knife,"</em> ca. 1759–after 1630 B.C.E. Egyptian blue frit, 1 3/8 x 3 9/16 in. (3.5 x 9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour
, 16.580.145. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.580.145_PS6.jpg)

Fragment of "Magic Knife," ca. 1759–after 1630 B.C.E. Egyptian blue frit, 1 3/8 x 3 9/16 in. (3.5 x 9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour , 16.580.145. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.580.145_PS6.jpg)

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Fragment of "Magic Knife"

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor

Used for magical protection, objects like this one are today commonly called “knives” because of their sickle-like shape. Ancient Egyptians placed knives like this on the stomachs of pregnant women and on newborns to repel demons and disease. In the tomb, such knives provided protection for the deceased.

MEDIUM Egyptian blue frit

Place Made: Egypt

DATES ca. 1759–after 1630 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 13

PERIOD Middle Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 1 3/8 x 3 9/16 in. (3.5 x 9 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 16.580.145

CREDIT LINE Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour

PROVENANCE Archaeological provenance not yet documented; before 1888, probably acquired by Henry Roderick Newman; February 8, 1888, probably purchased in Egypt from Henry Roderick Newman by Charles Edwin Wilbour; 1896, inherited from Charles Edwin Wilbour by Charlotte Beebe Wilbour; 1914, inherited from Charlotte Beebe Wilbour by Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour; 1916, gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour to the Brooklyn Museum.

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CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Fragment of magic wand in deep Egyptian blue frit. End with lion’s head in relief on both sides; shaft incised on one side with human legs supporting a vase and Bes holding serpents; on other, lion’s legs supporting jackal-head and tail and portion of body of Sobek-crocodile on stand. Condition: Fragment. Some chips in preserved portion. Glaze has lost luster but preserved lapis-lazuli color.

EXHIBITIONS

Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Fragment of "Magic Knife," ca. 1759–after 1630 B.C.E. Egyptian blue frit, 1 3/8 x 3 9/16 in. (3.5 x 9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour , 16.580.145. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.580.145_PS6.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 16.580.145_PS6.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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