Egypt, Romano-Egyptian period, ca. 30 BCE to 300 CE. A bronze sistrum, type of hand held percussive rattle instrument, that consists of a slender handle with a pronged tip and a pair of jangling discs on a pin set between the arms. The head is bent downward, but originally it would have pointed upward. When shaken, the cymbal shaped discs produce a sound that can range from a soft clank to a loud jangling - although this one is a bit too bent to produce a proper rattle. The sound is complementary to that of a hissing snake when the sistrum is played. The sistrum was particularly important for the Egyptian worship of the goddesses Hathor and Bastet and was used in Greek and Roman religious rituals as well. Size: 3" W x 5" H (7.6 cm x 12.7 cm); 5.5" H (14 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#177297

Bent downward as shown, otherwise intact with nice patina. Cymbals rattle slightly.