Rings and necklace
The tomb of Wah was discovered in March 1920 by the Museum's Egyptian Expedition. The undecorated corridor contained a coffin and some food offerings. Inside the coffin were a well preserved mummy, linen sheets, a group of staffs, and a number of funerary items such as a mirror, sandals, a headrest, and a small statue. The entire tomb group was awarded to the Museum in the division of finds.
Wah's jewelry was revealed when his mummy was x-rayed in 1939. To no one's surprise, the x-rays showed that Wah's body had been adorned with typical funerary jewelry of the early Middle Kingdom: a broad collar, bracelets, and anklets made of the blue ceramic material called Egyptian faience (40.3.2-.10), and a carnelian <i?seweret</i>-bead (40.3.1). Unexpectedly, he also had personal jewelry of stone and metal (40.3.11-.19). When the mummy was unwrapped in 1940, the superb jewelry was seen for the first time since Wah's burial some 39 centuries earlier.
Wah's jewelry was revealed when his mummy was x-rayed in 1939. To no one's surprise, the x-rays showed that Wah's body had been adorned with typical funerary jewelry of the early Middle Kingdom: a broad collar, bracelets, and anklets made of the blue ceramic material called Egyptian faience (40.3.2-.10), and a carnelian <i?seweret</i>-bead (40.3.1). Unexpectedly, he also had personal jewelry of stone and metal (40.3.11-.19). When the mummy was unwrapped in 1940, the superb jewelry was seen for the first time since Wah's burial some 39 centuries earlier.
Artwork Details
- Title: Rings and necklace
- Period: Middle Kingdom
- Dynasty: Dynasty 12
- Reign: early reign of Amenemhat I
- Date: ca. 1981–1975 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Southern Asasif, Tomb of Wah (MMA 1102), MMA excavations, 1920
- Medium: Carnelian and linen thread; blue-glazed steatite and linen thread; carnelian, turquoise, moss agate, amethyst, milky quartz, green-glazed steatite, and twisted linen cord
- Dimensions: Sweret bead: L. 2 cm (13/16 in.); Diam. 1.1 cm (7/16 in.), Scarab: L. 2.6 cm (1 in.), Necklace: 103 cm (40 9/16 in.)
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1940
- Object Number: 40.3.1,.11,.16-related
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
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ca. 1981–1975 B.C.
ca. 1981–1975 B.C.
ca. 1981–1975 B.C.
ca. 1850–1700 B.C.
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
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