Egyptian Steatite Tilapia Fish Plaque Amulet

Object Description

A steatite, Egyptian, janiform plaque amulet with the moulded form of a fish on one side. The animal is shown in high relief and incsed details mark the hatched scales and facial features. The deep dorsal fin and anal fin are clearly shaped and characterise this particular fish as a ’tilapia nilotica’, or ‘Nile Tilapia’. To the reverse, the plaque is decorated with three hieroglyphs, surrounded by a linear border. To the centre is a tall ‘ḥs’ (hes) jar, flanked on either side by two undulating uraei. The ‘hes’ hieroglyph would translate as ‘praise’. The ‘hes’ sign has been previously misdescribed as a ‘hem’ sign. The plaque is pierced for suspension.

Date: Circa 1550-1070 BC
Period: New Kingdom Period

Object History

Private Swiss collection. Acquired from Bonham’s, Antiquities Auction, Tuesday 3rd October 2000, part of lot 385. No further provenance supplied by Bonham’s. Supplied with a photocopy of the relevant page from the Bonham’s auction catalogue.

Object Condition

Excellent. Clearly defined hieroglyphs and deeply moulded features.

Object Details