4271 – Sistrum

Physical description:

A sistrum (a ritual percussion instrument that originated in Ancient Egypt), with a wooden handle and an elongated hoop made of brass. The wooden handle is turned and may be a repurposed commercially-made item; it has a brass end inscribed with a small equal-armed cross. Immediately above the handle there is an attachment made of sheet copper with impressed decoration and a depiction of the face of the Egyptian Goddess Hathor on both the front and the back. Above this is the hoop, made of thick brass sheet, with three copper wires across it, each with four copper discs, which produce a sound when the sistrum is shaken.

Museum classification:

Sanders Collection

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Wood, metal (brass)