Ancient Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A carved wood uraeus, a representation of the sacred cobra snake worn on the headdresses of Egyptian deities and sovereigns. Some black pigments remain on the head of the hooded serpent. The cobra is symbolic of royalty, and always worn on the headdress of the pharaoh, the queen, and other members of the royal family. Uraei come from the symbolism of the goddess Wadjet, who was the patroness of the Nile Delta and was often depicted as a cobra; her place on a crown encircling the head emphasized her protection over a pharaoh who sought to rule her land. This example is uniquely mounted on a former museum paperboard plaque with a descriptive label and hand-painted headdresses that show the different ways the uraeus was worn! Size of uraeus: 5" L x 1.75" W (12.7 cm x 4.4 cm); display board: 16" L x 12" W (40.6 cm x 30.5 cm)

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Newark Museum, New Jersey, used as part of the teaching collection in the 1980s

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#165145

Chips to peripheries and age expected weathering. Stable pressure fissure in center as shown. Inventory number written on side. Traces of black pigments on head. Displayed on a vintage display board with hand painted imagery and typed descriptive label. Fraying and scuffs to corners and age discoloration to paper. Ribbon attached to top for suspension.