Egyptian Poppy Carnelian Amulet

The New Kingdom of Egypt, c. 1550-1069 BC, Egypt.

Exceptional, small-sized poppy seed head shaped amulet, finely carved out of carnelian stone. Fascinating amulet features red to orange hues and are pierced for suspension. Poppy amulets were commonly made from carnelian, jasper or red faience, to imitate the colour of the real flower. Poppy amulets are generally associated with resurrection, although their precise meaning remains unknown. In ancient Egypt, amulets were abundant and most were probably inexpensive, which made them available to nearly everyone. An amulet is an object believed to have certain positive properties that, as the amulet’s main function, can magically be bestowed upon its owner. In ancient Egypt, this magical power was often derived from a combination of several aspects, such as the amulet’s shape, decoration, inscription, color, material, and words spoken over the piece or acts performed with it. Amulets were usually worn or placed on the body to transfer their powers directly to the owner. Ancient Egyptian amulets represented animals, deities, symbols, or objects in miniature.

Excellent condition. Age-related wear and signs of use. Light encrustations. Size approx. 1,1cm x 0,5cm x 0,5cm.

Provenance: private collection from England

For a similar examples see:

Pendant, The British Museum, Accession Number: EA86625 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_EA86625)

Pendant in the Shape of a Poppy, The Art Institute Of Chicago, Accession Number: 1892.66 (https://www.artic.edu/artworks/135846/pendant-in-the-shape-of-a-poppy)

String of Carnelian Beads and Poppy Pendants, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 22.1.1294 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/557486)

References and further reading:

Amulets of Ancient Egypt, Carol Andrews, University of Texas Press, 1994. pp. 82-83.

Talismans & amulets, Felicitas H. Nelson, New York: Sterling, 2008, p. 25. 

Ancient Egyptian Amulets, Isabel Stünkel, In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, February 2019. (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/egam/hd_egam.htm)

Handbook of Egyptian mythology, Geraldine Pinch, Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 2002, p. 127.

Egypt in the New Kingdom (ca. 1550–1070 B.C.), Catharine H. Roehrig, In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, October 2000. (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/nking/hd_nking.htm)