A fine Egyptian Faience White Crown Amulet, Late Period, ca. 664 - 332 BCE

As ruler of Upper Egypt, the land south of the delta, the Pharoah wore the headgear known from its color as the White Crown.   Called hedjet, 'White One', but also wrt (weret), the 'Great One', it takes the form of a tall conical shape with a bulbous top and was probably made from starched linen or white leather over a wicker frame. Its white color is all-important and invariable, yet, curiously, all the amulets in its shape without exception are green, whether of glazed composition or glass.  Although it is the earlier of the two crowns ever to be depicted, single amulets in its shape are not found with certainty before the Saite Period when they are generally well formed in the round (even the ear-flaps are carefully delineated) with a suspension loop at the back such as this example.  The white crown would have been worn only by the king and certain deities, so amulets in their shape, when placed on the mummy of a commoner, would imbue him with the same aura of power and authority as the pharaoh or god in the Other World.

Ref: Carol Andrews, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London: British Museum Press (1994) p. 75

Dimensions:  Height: 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm)

Condition:  Intact and in excellent condition overall, a rare and superb example.

Provenance:  Private Maryland collection of a diplomat, acquired while serving in Egypt between 1949 and 1956, and then by descent.

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