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Falcon Reliquary

Egyptian (Artist)
ca. 600-350 BCE (Late Period)
bronze, bird bones, linen
(Ancient Egypt and Nubia )

This statuette, likely dedicated to the falcon-god Horus, is missing its crown and eye inlays. The structure of the feathers is carefully incised. The base is inscribed with texts of adoration and prayer. Examination through the hole in the head revealed bird bones that had been wrapped in linen and placed inside through a trap door between the statuette's legs. A neutron-induced radiograph also reveals the presence of bones inside the reliquary.

Inscription

[Translation] To be recited: Osiris-Wennefer, the Great God, Lord of Heaven, Royal Youth, wearing the white crown, who went forth from the body of the two uraeus serpents, the uraeus is upon the great forehead of the one who has dwelt in the body of Nut. To be recited: Osiris who rules in the west, may he give life, health, long lifetime, and a long and good age to Iwer-hotep-her-nebef, son of Ren-ef-hesy.

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Exhibitions

1996 To Arrest the Ravages of Time: Caring for Art at the Walters. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.

Conservation

Date Description Narrative
4/30/1957 Treatment cleaned
9/17/1959 Treatment cleaned
6/24/1981 Examination examined for condition
6/16/1992 Examination examined for condition
6/26/2001 Treatment cleaned; other
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Geographies

Egypt (Place of Origin)

Measurements

H: 8 15/16 in. (22.7 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters, by 1931

Location in Museum

Centre Street: Second Floor: Egyptian Art

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

54.547

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Hours

  • Wednesday—Sunday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
  • Thursday: 1–8 p.m.
  • Monday—Tuesday: Closed

Location

600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD
21201

Phone

410-547-9000

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