Life

Potter and Faience Maker

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shabti

This is a mummiform figurine known as a shabti.

It is from Deir-el- Bahari. The Egyptians believed that shabtis do the work of the deceased and their servants in the Afterlife. The term shabti means "answerer". When the deceased's name was called to work

cloth

This is a piece of cloth.

It is from Grave 45 at Tarkhan (Kafr Ammar

stone frag showing tunic

This is a stone fragment showing a man in a pleated garment.

It is from Egypt but the exact location is unknown. The hot climate of Ancient Egypt meant that simple lightweight linen clothes were worn by most Egyptians. Whilst a number of examples of New Kingdom textiles have survived

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cloth with weaver's mark

This is a piece of mummy bandaging with a weaver's mark on it.

It is from Pit 7 at the Temple of Mentuhotep at Deir el Bahari. Weaver's marks in cloth identified who made the cloth

tiles

These are decorated tiles.

Nefertem amulet

This is an amulet of the god Nefertem.

It is from Egypt but the exact location is unknown. Nefertem was the god of the primeval lotus blossum. He has a lotus flower and plume headdress which represents fertility. This large amulet was made in a mould

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necklace

This is a bead necklace.

It is from the Sinai Peninsular. The ball beads were probably hand-made and the disc beads mould-made. The beads were re-strung by an excavator or more recently at the museum. It is not known if this was the original order that the beads were in.The ancient Egyptians mined turquoise and copper in the Sinai Peninsular. Faience was probably meant to imitate turquoise

eye of Horus amulet

This is a wedjat or Eye of Horus amulet.

It is from the south side of the sanctuary at San el-Hagar (Tanis). The wedjat represents the eye of Horus that was injured in a fight with his uncle Set. The markings are like those on the eye of a hawk. The Egyptians believed the wedjat had healing properties

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shabtis x 4
These are mummiform figurines known as shabtis.

cloth

This is a piece of cloth.

It is from Grave 45 at Tarkhan (Kafr Ammar

Pan grave cup

This is a "Pan Grave" cup.

It is from Deir Rifa. The "Pan-Grave" people were Nubian cattle herders who moved into Upper Egypt in the Hyksos Period - the 15th Dynasty. The name comes from their style of burial in shallow pit-graves.This style of black-topped redware pottery was made by the settlers

Eye of Horus mould

This is a mould for making an Eye of Horus amulet.

It is from Egypt but the exact location is unknown. Faience was made in small workshops

mould x 5

These are moulds for making amulets.

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cloth

This is a piece of cloth.

It is from Grave 45 at Tarkhan (Kafr Ammar

toy horse

This is a toy horse.

It is from Tell Nabasha. Potters made a wide range of household goods

ring

This is a decorated finger ring.

It is from Egypt but the exact location is unknown. Blue was the most common colour of faience

beads

These are faience beads.

They are from Dendara. The faience makers of ancient Egypt produced innumerable beads. They were cheaper and easier to produce than stone beads. Many faience tube beads

goldsmith stela

This is a stela to Scribe of the Granary.

We do not know where this object is from. A translation of the text reads: "Osiris Lord of Life; Isis the Mother Goddess; the ka of the Scribe of the Granary

set of amulets x 15

This is a set of 15 amulets.

They are from Saft el-Hinna

kiln supports

These are kiln supports for pots.

breccia pot

This is a breccia stone pot.

It is from Grave 133

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Cloth Fragment

This is a fragment of cloth.

It is from Egypt but the exact location is unknown. This is a fragment from a larger piece of weaving

bowl fragments

These are bowl fragments.

They are from Egypt but the exact location is unknown. Faience makers modelled larger objects such as bowls and figurines by hand rather than using moulds. These three fragments

disc bead mould

This is a mould for making disc beads.

It is from San el-Hagar (Tanis). Faience was made in small workshops

new year jar

This is known as a New Year flask.

It is from Tell Hisn (Heliopolis). The ancient Egyptian New Year started in late summer when the Nile began to flood. The Egyptians thought that this period of transition was a dangerous time

triad amulets x3

These are triad amulets featuring Isis

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necklace

This is a beaded necklace.

It is from Grave A14 at Qurna

cloth

flower bead mould x2

These are moulds for making flower beads.

eye of Horus amulet

This is a wedjat or Eye of Horus amulet.

It is from San el-Hagar (Tanis). The wedjat represents the eye of Horus that was injured in a fight with his uncle Set. The markings are like those on the eye of a hawk. The Egyptians believed the wedjat had healing properties

double ship vase

This vessel is made from two joined pots.

It is from Grave B225 at El Amra. Many pots have been excavated

misfired rings

This is a mis-fired faience piece.

It is from Egypt but the exact location is unknown. The faience workers left hand-built and moulded objects to dry before firing them in a kiln. During firing

eye of Horus amulet

This is a wedjat or Eye of Horus amulet.

They are from San el-Hagar (Tanis). The wedjat represents the eye of Horus that was injured in a fight with his uncle Set. The markings are like those on the eye of a hawk. The Egyptians believed the wedjat had healing properties

kohl pot

This is a kohl pot.

It is from Saft el-Hinna

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Ha5406[a]
Ha5406a

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new year jar

This is known as a New Year flask.

It is from Memphis. The ancient Egyptian New Year started in late summer when the Nile began to flood. The Egyptians thought that this period of transition was a dangerous time

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white line bowl

This is a bowl.

It is from El-'Amra. Pottery was one of the earliest crafts developed in Egypt and has proved invaluable for dating archaeological sites. Nile silt

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Amarna pot

This is a large decorated pot from Amarna.

It is from El-'Amarna (Akhetaten). Large numbers of pots survive from ancient Egypt. This one is from the Amarna period

necklace

This is a beaded necklace with bright blue bell-shaped flower beads.

It is from Egypt but the exact location is unknown. The ancient Egyptians called faience tjehenet - deriving from 'shining' or 'dazzling' - and linked it with light symbolic of life

Life

Potter and Faience Maker

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Metalworker and Weaver

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