ca. 1069–663 BC. Third Intermediate Period. Egyptian. A blue glazed faience amulet of the goddess Bastet, seated on a decorated block-throne and holding a sistrum in her lap, with a feline head, a tripartite wig, and a suspension loop at the top. Bastet, at this point often conflated with Sekhmet, was the cat goddess who helped ward off diseases and demons just as the house cat wards off mice. She had solar connotations too, and was the champion warrior of the sun god Ra.Provenance: Private London collection; formerly acquired in the UK art market from 1960s-80s collections.Size: L:55mm / W:40mm ; 17.7g