Ancient Egyptian Cat Statue

The Gayer-Anderson Cat.

Hollow-cast bronze figure of a seated cat with incised detail, an inlaid silver sun-disc and wedjat-eye pectoral on the chest and golden earrings and nose-rings; tangs beneath.

The Gayer-Anderson cat is one of the best-known objects in the collections of the British Museum’s Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan. It is a life-size cast copper alloy figure of a cat sitting upright, probably dating to the Egyptian Late Period (around 600 BC). Despite the iconic nature of the sculpture no scientific or technical examination had been made of the piece until recently. Although now repaired, it has suffered an unexpected level of damage in the past. It also showed evidence of the original manufacturing techniques used. Indications were also found

of the possible original appearance of the object, including the use of polychromy. (text from the museum website and from the BM Technical Research Bulletin)

Late Period, around 600 BC, possibly from Saqqara.

EA64391

 

British Museum

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