Finial, lion head
Medium:Wood
Geography: Undetermined site, Egypt
Period: Undetermined Period
Dimensions:10.3 × 7 × 7.5 cm
Object number: 910.37.12
Credit Line: Gift Of Mrs. H.D. Warren
Gallery Location:Galleries of Africa: Egypt
DescriptionThis vigorously carved, inquisitive looking lion
head once belonged to a piece of furniture, very likely forming part of the front
legs of a funerary bed. The whole leg,
with head, forepart, and legs was usually carved in once piece, so it would
seem that this lion was removed from the rest of the leg at some time in the
past. He forms part of a set with two
others, 910.31.11 and 910.37.13 in the ROM.
There were probably originally four, two for each side of the front
legs, as in ROM Funerary Bed 910.27. During the Roman period, a
funerary bed was sometimes used to support the mummy in the tomb
chamber, and perhaps during the funerary rites
