Seal impression
Unknown Artist
ca. 1981–1640 B.C.
Medium
Clay
Classification
Sealing
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1909
Accession Number
09.180.1146
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of ancient Egyptian bureaucracy with this intriguing *Seal Impression* from the Middle Kingdom, dating to around 1981–1640 B.C. Crafted in clay during Dynasties 12–13, this small artifact captures the moment a seal—likely a scarab or stamp—was pressed into soft clay, leaving behind a raised design for authentication. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1909, it now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art collection, offering a tangible link to a time of stability and cultural flourishing after Egypt's turbulent First Intermediate Period. Seal impressions l...