Vase in the form of a Monkey with her Young
Culture: Egyptian
Period: Old Kingdom
Dynasty: Dynasty 6
Date: ca. 2278-2184 B.C.
Medium: Travertine (Egyptian alabaster)
Dimensions:
h. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm); w. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm); d. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm)
Credit Line: Museum Purchase: Stark-Willson Collection
Object number: 86.138.61
Inscribed: One column of text read right to left:
nsw-bity ppy
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Pepy
Additional information in curatorial file [S. Schellinger 2018]
Provenance: by purchase, the Stark family, Orange, Texas, between 1927 and 1929; by bequest, the Nelda C. and H. J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, 1965; by purchase, the San Antonio Museum of Art with funding from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Willson, 1986
Label Text
This amusing vase probably once held scented oil or perfume. The Egyptians imported vervet monkeys from the region of modern Ethiopia, and the perfume's ingredients also came from this area. The mother monkey's right shoulder is inscribed with the name of Pepy II. The charming vase of scented oil was probably a prestigious gift given by the king to an honored member of his court. (J. Powers, 2013)
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
