Wedjat ring

Object Details

• Label

  The wedjat eye is a symbol of the falcon-headed god Horus, who gave the eye to his father Osiris and by doing so brought him back to life. In another story, the eye of Horus was injured and the time required for it to heal was likened to the cycle of the moon. The symbol may be translated as "the whole or restored one."

  This type of amulet would have been used both during life and in the tomb as a symbol of protection during life and rebirth after death. The wedjat eye occurs as an amulet as early as the Old Kingdom in various materials and was often painted on objects such as Middle Kingdom coffins. But openwork faience wedjat eye rings like this one are limited to the New Kingdom (ca. 1539-1075 B.C.E.), primarily to Dynasties 18 and 19 (ca. 1539-1190 B.C.E.).

• Provenance

  To 1907

  Unidentified owner, Egypt, to 1907 [1]

  From 1907 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased in Egypt from an unidentified owner in 1907 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Pottery List, L. 1875, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Charles Lang Freer and Egypt (June 13, 1998 to October 2, 2011)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Horus, Faience, Ancient Egyptian Art, New Kingdom (ca. 1539 - 1075 BCE)

• Culture

  Egyptians

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry