An Egyptian gold fish
New Kingdom, circa 1550-1069 BC
Of hollow form, with repoussé concentric eyes, the pronounced dorsal fin and tail with linear detail, double-pierced at the mouth and tail, 2cm long
Footnotes:
Provenance
U.S.A. art Market
Private Collection, U.S.A., acquired in 2000

For similar hollow gold fish beads, from the girdle of a wife of Tuthmosis III, 18th Dynasty. Cf. C Andrews, Ancient Egyptian Jewellery, , British Museum, 1990, pp 142-3. Such gold bead and glass girdles were worn by young girls as well as servants and dancing girls, as in a wall-painting from the tomb of Nebamun, West Thebes, 18th Dynasty.