The Gayer-Anderson Cat: Object in Focus

The Gayer Anderson Cat has been one of the most admired objects at the British Museum since its arrival in 1947. This book presents a detailed description of the Cat and a discussion of its possible meaning and role in ancient times. Surprising new finds from scientific analyses are presented for the first time, shedding light on the Cat's somewhat traumatic modern history, from its acquisition by the British Army major and avid antiquities collector John Gayer Anderson to its donation to the British Museum. The fascinating narrative is complemented by outstanding new photography. <br><br> <a href="http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/figure/0AGz5rhMtxdjvA" target="_blank" title="Read more about the Gayer-Anderson cat here" class="linkarrow">Read more about the Gayer-Anderson cat here<span class="arrow"> </span></a>

Exclusive to the British Museum, and part of the Objects in Focus range of books, a guide to the Gayer-Anderson Cat.

This book presents a detailed description of the Cat and a discussion of its possible meaning and role in ancient times. Surprising new finds from scientific analyses are presented for the first time, shedding light on the Cat's somewhat traumatic modern history, from its acquisition by the British Army major and avid antiquities collector John Gayer Anderson to its donation to the British Museum. The fascinating narrative is complemented by outstanding new photography.

The Gayer-Anderson Cat is a sacred temple cat sculpture from the Late Period of ancient Egypt. The regal and highly decorated bronze statue wears gold earrings and a gold nose ring. Her silver breastplate is decorated with the sacred eye of the god Horus, beneath which is an ornamental scarab and silvered disc. The cat represents the goddess Bastet and is named after Major Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson who donated the cat to the British Museum in 1939. Cats were highly revered in ancient Egypt and were often found in temples as Bastet’s representative.    

A fascinating journey of discovery into one of the Museum's most beautiful artefacts.