This week’s class focused on the Old Kingdom (namely the Third–Sixth
Dynasties, approximately 2700–2200 BC). The Egypt Centre holds comparatively less
material that can be definitely dated to this timeframe than other periods (the Tjenti lintel was too big to remove from the wall!), but
in spite of this Ken was able to select some really beautiful pieces for the
class to demonstrate the type of material being produced during this important
period of Egyptian history.
Fig. 1: Siltstone dish |
Our first object was the reserve head (W164), which
has been discussed in a previous blog post, but was very well-received by the
class, many of whom have admired this object on display and were very pleased
to finally view it up close. A siltstone dish (W412), likely dating to the First–Second
Dynasty (Aston 1994, type 51), was helpful to compare the shift from the Early Dynastic Period to the Old
Kingdom (fig. 1).
Fig. 2: Breccia bowl |
A red and white breccia bowl (W400) is unprovenanced
but typical of vessels produced during the Early Dynasty Period (fig. 2). However, the
typology established by Aston (1994, type 108) also suggests these vessels can be found in tombs of the
early Old Kingdom. It’s a sizable and very heavy piece (which isn’t appreciated
when viewing in a case), and the amount of time and skill that must have gone
into its production cannot go unnoticed when viewed up close.
Fig. 3: Offering table |
We had two travertine (Egyptian alabaster) objects
this week—a dish (W398), and an offering table (W2045)—and as with the
breccia bowl, being able to handle these vessels really allows you to
appreciate the scale of the work involved. The travertine bowl is fortunate to
have a known provenance, allowing us to securely date it to the Third Dynasty.
It was excavated by John Garstang (1876–1956)
from the site of Raqaqnah (Tomb 1) between 1901–2 (Garstang 1904; Thomas 2002). The offering table (W2045)
stylistically dates to the Fifth Dynasty, and would have been placed on a stand
in front of a false door in a tomb to receive food offerings for the deceased (fig, 3).
This object was a gift from the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.
Fig. 4: Admiring the aragonite dish |
My favourite object of the week was
the aragonite dish (W307), which fits with Aston’s type 51 (figs. 4–5). I’d been lucky enough to help with the condition
checks for the objects prior to the class, and Ken and I noted this item was
listed as travertine (likely due to its translucent nature, and ivory colour).
However, we realised that the red bands were very unusual and the stone much
smoother and crystalline than other travertine objects of a similar date. After
a little research, we concluded aragonite a much more likely candidate for its
material.
Fig. 5: Aragonite dish |
The thing that really impressed me
with the dish was the skill and forethought of the artist who created the piece
over four thousand years ago, who realised the bands of different colour within
the natural rock could be utilised to create the beautiful effect around the
circumference of the dish—it is stunning!
Fig. 6: An excellent photo op |
There were audible “oohs” and “ahhhs”
in the class (as well as the hasty grabbing of camera phones!) when we put the
translucent objects on the light box that Ken had brought up from the stores (fig. 6).
This handy bit of kit allowed us to illuminate the objects from below. As well
as just being very pretty, this allowed the class to really see the tool marks
and veins of the natural stone within each piece.
Thank you to Ken, and the Egypt
Centre, for allowing us the opportunity to appreciate these beautiful and
fascinating objects—I can’t wait to see what objects we get next week!
Bibliography
Aston, B. G. (1994) Ancient Egyptian
stone vessels: materials and forms. Studien zur Archäologie und Geschichte Altägyptens 5. Heidelberg: Heidelberger
Orientverlag.
Garstang, J. (1904) Report of excavations at Reqaqnah, 1901–2: tombs of the third Egyptian dynasty at Raqâqnah and Bêt Khallâf. Westminster: Constable.
Thomas, A. P. (2002) ‘The rediscovery of
some Dynasty III stone vessels from Reqaqnah’. In Mélanges offerts à Edith
Varga: “le lotus qui sort de terre”, ed. H. Győry. Bulletin du Musée
Hongrois des Beaux-Arts: Supplément 2001. Budapest: Musée Hongrois des
Beaux-Arts. 459–468.
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