Egypt, New Kingdom, ca. 1550 - 1069 BC. Blue glazed faience, slender tapering form, a tall broad shaft with ribbed capital surmounted by four short horizontal bars, hole for attachment at top.

cf: D Auria, Lacovara and Roehrig, 'Mummies and Magic,' p.181 for a discussion of djed-pillars. The author writes that this form of amulet 'has been variously explained as a column of papyrus stems, a tree-trunk with looped branches and a sheaf of bound cornstalks... Though not originally associated with Osiris, by the New Kingdom the djed-pillar had come to be closely linked with the god, and its shape was reinterpreted as a representation of his backbone. The image also has connotations of stability and endurance and it was primarily to confer these qualities on the deceased that [they were] placed within the mummy wrappings.'

Dimensions: height, 1-1/2" (3.8 centimeters)

Provenance: Private FL collection, acquired in Chicago in the 1960's and previously in the Robert L. McLaughlin Collection.

Attractive blue glaze thinner at back of piece, minor age appropriate wear and accumulation, part of attachment loop now missing.