Pyxis

Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst München

Description

This small round box belongs to a rare group of vessels, which is preserved only in a few exemplars. The outside is covered by the depiction of a marshy landscape, or rather the upper part of a papyrus thicket. Between soaring birds, alternating open and closed papyrus clusters are set as well as branches of a not exactly definable plant. These plants grow out of a strip with reticular pattern, which terminates the lower pictorial field, as well as from a narrow ladder motif, which cuts off the upper part. The depiction of nature is not meant to be realistic but freely combines motifs associated with “papyrus thicket”. This association is underpinned by the turquoise faience glaze, onto which the plants and birds are painted in monochrome line drawing.

The interpretation of the lower reticular strip needs to remain open: it could be either a stylised representation of the papyrus thicket or of the wavy structure of water. It might also describe a real net as used for catching birds. Finally, the net could be a purely decorative element analogous to the ladder motif on the upper rim. The vessel is slightly tapered towards the upper rim, under which it bears six transfixion clasps for the attachment of a lid. In comparison with similar pieces, the lid was probably designed in the guise of an (upside down) far open bloom.

For this type of round vessel, for which there are only few parallel pieces, the shape of the African hut has been suggested as a possible explanation, since its shape may have served as model.

Author

Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst München (SMAEK)