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1906.45.4

Votive pair of eyes. Repousse design on copper (bronze). Embossed.

On display

1906.45.4

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Collection type
Object
Description
Votive pair of eyes. Repousse design on copper (bronze). Embossed.
Geographical reference
Egypt
Africa > Northern Africa > Egypt
Date / Period
Archaeological period: Ancient Egyptian New Kingdom
Date collected
Excavated 1903 - 1906
Acquisition information
Donated: 1906
Materials and processes
Material Bronze Metal, Material Copper Metal, Process Repoussé, Process Embossed
Dimensions
Length x Width 51 x 17 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1906.45.4
Research and responses

Object to removed from wooden plaque in preparation for exhibition at Valencia (work undertaken by Conservation Dept at Pitt Rivers Museum ). [JN 13/5/2003]

These objects are discussed in Pinch's (1993) Votive Offerings to Hathor study in chapter 2.8 . She notes on p. 259 that "The ears and the eyes do not represent those of sick people... Ordinary eyes and wadjet eyes are used interchangeably on the stelae and plaques; both should be interpreted as divine... The function of the eye stelae and model eyes was to encourage the deity to read the petition of the donor, or to look favourably or protectively upon them. he eye may be prominent in the votive offerings to Hathor in part because of her role as the protective Solar Eye" [AS 28/06/2012]

Associated publications
Illustrated in colour as figure 2 on page 230 of the exhibition catalogue La Vista Y La Visión, [The Eyesight and the Vision] edited by IVAM Institut Valencia d'Art Modern (VEGAP: Valencia, 2003). Caption (same page) reads: 'Exvoto egipcio con ojos. Egyptian votive offering with eyes. Imperio Nuevo, XVIII dinastia. New Kingdom, 18th dynasty. Deir El Bahari. Bronze repujado / Embossed bronze. 1.7 x 5.1 cm. Pitt-Rivers [sic] Museum, Oxford. Inv. no. 1960.45.4 [ZM 8/10/2003] A photograph of this object appears on Pl. 55 of Pinch, G. 1993. Votive Offerings to Hathor. Oxford: Ashmolean Museum. [AS 28/06/2012]

Search terms: Ornament, Religion, Amulet, Religious Offering, Plaque

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