New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, circa 1504-1452 B.C.. Modelled resting on a rectangular base, with fur-texture detailing and hieroglyph to the underside. Cf. Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, item 29(c), for type. 2.01 grams, 17.59 mm (1 1/2 in.).

The cat was sacred to Bastet, a protective mother goddess and the daughter of the sun god Re. Amulets provided the wearer with the goddess's protection. Her name means ‘she of the bast [ointment jar],’ which may have contained a substance favoured by or exclusive to royalty. Originally, Bastet was depicted as a woman with the head of a lioness, but by the New Kingdom, she was typically depicted with a cat's head. She is sometimes shown with kittens, emphasising her maternal role as a fierce protector of offspring.

From an old Suffolk, UK, collection. Acquired in the UK before 1980. From the personal collection of Derek Rogers, Suffolk, UK. [No Reserve]