Mould Representing the Head of Bes

From the New Kingdom onwards, the faience amulets were made by pressing from a mould made of terracotta. By using the moulds, the shaping process became easier and faster and allowed mass production, but at the same time, the consequence was the uniform amulets. This terracotta amulet, mould-made of Nile clay, was created for the manufacture of an amulet representing the ancient Egyptian god Bes. The apotropaic deity’s face depicted in the centre of the mould is crowned with feathers, and his animal ears are protruding. A wide collar-like band was incised under the beard. Containing remnants of white paste from used, the powder can be left from the fresh faience paste or the glaze covering the paste. The suspension part was created by a longitudinal slot between the ears. The back was plain and convex, so the lying mould remained stable during the shaping process.