Wooden lion's head


Accession Number
EC8
Current Location
House of Life (first floor), Woodwork case
Object Type
Furniture, Furniture element
Material
Wood
Provenance
Egypt, Akhmim
Measurements
Height: 95mm
Number of Elements
1
Animal
Lion

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Description

A wooden lion's head, likely a terminal from a piece of furniture. The wood was covered with a layer of gesso, and the facial features added in black ink. Lions were associated with rebirth and are depicted on funerary beds from the New Kingdom onwards. The object comes from Akhmim, which is written on the underside of the object in red ink. It was part of the collection of Robert de Rustafjaell, which was purchased by Wellcome at auction in 1906.

Other Identity
W2056 (previous number no longer used for this object) | 911 (rectangular serrated label over circular lot label and circular label with blue border)
Auction
Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge: 19–21 Dec 1906
Auction Details
Perhaps lot 152?
Previous Owners
Robert de Rustafjaell (1859–1943) | Sir Henry Solomon Wellcome (1853–1936)
Acquisition
Long-term loan, The Wellcome Trust (15 Feb 1971)
Last modified: 17 Feb 2021
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