Terminal from a Broad Collar
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
The broad collar was part of the funerary dress affording magical protection for its wearer. Examples with falcon-headed terminals symbolic of Horus in his role as avenger of his murdered father Osiris are known from as early as the Middle Kingdom. This particular terminal, which exhibits the same color scheme as fine Twenty-third Dynasty specimens inlaid with semiprecious stones, illustrates the use of glass as a substitute for more costly elements.
MEDIUM
Gold, glass
DATES
305–30 B.C.E.
PERIOD
Ptolemaic Period
DIMENSIONS
1 3/8 x 1 3/4 x 1/4 in. (3.5 x 4.5 x 0.7 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
65.3.2
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Opaque glass hawk’s head (Horus) terminal or pendant. Set in gold with a gold backing. A fine rope of twisted gold wire across the bottom forms five loops (one missing at right corner). A suspension loop is attached separately at left top center. Head faces to right, is predominantly white, with yellow beak and yellow ringed black eye; dark blue areas on back of head, behind and under the eye. Across the bottom, red and black striped yellow sections, three in all, alternate with four dark blue sections to form a horizontal band. Color sections not inlaid in white, but fused with it.
Condition: Good. Object apparently complete although there may have been another twisted wire loop at the lower right corner (now missing). Slight yellow-brown discolorations on the white glass at top of head, around eye, ant right edge, and at lower edge. Slight incrustation on back of gold setting.
CAPTION
Terminal from a Broad Collar, 305–30 B.C.E. Gold, glass, 1 3/8 x 1 3/4 x 1/4 in. (3.5 x 4.5 x 0.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 65.3.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.65.3.2_wwg8.jpg)
IMAGE
installation, West Wing gallery 8 installation,
CUR.65.3.2_wwg8.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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we welcome any additional information you might have.
What were these used for?
These are inlays, they would have been set into surfaces (like on a wall or on a coffin) as decoration.
The falcon head, though, is actually from a piece of jewelry! You can tell because it is rimmed in gold unlike the others.
It's a terminal for a broad collar (there is a big blue broad collar on view at the other end of the gallery). Attached at the bottom, would have been the beads, and above its head would have been the clasp or closure for the necklace.
Thanks!