Made in the 19th Dynasty during the Ramesside Period, (1295-1186BC). In Egyptian mythology the feline goddess Bast represented the fertilising warmth of the Sun.

This figurine is part of Dr Stuart Kay's Collection, presented to the Trustees of the NSW Applied Arts Trust in January 1927. It was obtained from and authenticated at the Cairo Museum.

Figure, cat goddess, bronze, Lower Egypt, 19th Dynasty, (1295-1186 BCE)

This small cast bronze of a cat is probably representative of the Egyptian goddess Bast or Bastet. It depicts a mother cat with four kittens suckling her, lying on a flat platform. The mother cat is wearing a necklace around her shoulders. The bronze was probably originally mounted.

Maker: unknown; Egypt

59A

25 mm

59 mm

40 mm