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Weight in the Form of a Hippopotamus Head
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Sensuously carved and polished to a silky luster, this weight takes the form of a hippopotamus head. Eyes, ears, and nostrils ae modeled in relief; the mouth is closed. The flat underside provides a surface on which to rest the object. This hippo head weighs 62.1 grams, roughly three-quarters of a <em>deben, </em>a unit of weight in ancient Egypt. As such it does not correspond to any of the more usual subdivisions of the <em>deben, </em>although similar examples are known. In fact it is an inter-standard weight, representing eight <em>seniu </em>or two-thirds of a <em>deben, </em>and is equivalent of an Aegean unit of 62.1 grams.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Dynasty 18 |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1540–1296 BCE |
| Culture / Origin | Egypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18 |
| Medium | hematite |
| Dimensions | Overall: 2.2 x 3 x 4.2 cm (7/8 x 1 3/16 x 1 5/8 in.) |
| Department | Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art |
| Type | Tools and Equipment |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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