- Museum number
- EA52947
- Description
-
Painted wooden model group: a peasant farmer wearing only a linen kilt, typical dress for a field worker, guides a team of two speckled oxen who draw a simple wooden plow which would have had a metal blade. He pushes down strongly on the handle and has sunk up to his ankles in the freshly turned moist soil.
- Production date
- 1985BC-1795BC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 20.30 centimetres
-
Length: 43.20 centimetres
-
Width: 17.70 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Wooden models of this type depicting workers involved in various forms of food production were placed in the tombs of provincial noblemen and high officials, from the time of the end of the Old Kingdom onwards to provide the deceased by magical means with all the requirements of the afterlife. Thus, they supplement the depiction of food and drink production on contemporary tomb walls. In this instance, the model ensured the tomb owner would never lack for grain in the other world from which to make bread and beer, two of the staples of the Egyptian diet.
Bibliography:
D. Wilson, 'Collections of the British Museum' (Cambridge, 1989), p. 80-1.
J. Rawson, 'Animals in Art' (1977) p. 29;
M. Caygill, 'Treasures of the British Museum' (London, 1985), p. 85, 167;
T. G. H. James, 'Egyptian Painting and Drawing in the British Museum' (Cambridge, Mass., 1986), fig. 4;
R. & J. Janssen, 'Egyptian household animals' (Princes Risborough, 1989), p. 28, fig. 20;
'The Treasures of the British Museum' [exhibition catalogue] (Japan, 1990/1). (Jap. Exhibition), p. 85;
M. Stead, 'Egyptian Life' (London, 1994). Cover;
J. Putnam. 'Egyptology: An Introduction to the History, Culture, and Art of Ancient Egypt', (London, 1995) p. 66;
S. Walker and M. Bierbrier, 'Fayum. Misteriosi volti dall'Egitto' (London, 1997), p. 41 [6];
'Egyptian Treasures' [exhibition catalogue] (Shanghai, 1999), pp. 200-201 [59];
'Sacred Food' (Barcelona, 2001), p. 198 [78].
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1977 London, BM, Animals in Art
1990 20 Oct-9 Dec, Japan, Tokyo, Setagaya Art Museum, Treasures of the British Museum, cat. no.67
1991 5 Jan-20 Feb, Japan, Yamaguchi, Prefectural Museum of Art, Treasures of the British Museum, cat. no.67
1991 9 Mar-7 May, Japan, Osaka, National Museum of Art, Treasures of the British Museum, cat. no.67
1997 22 Oct-1998 30 Apr, Italy, Rome, Fondaione Memmo, Ancient Faces
2001 30 Jun-30 Sep, Barcelona, Sacred Food
- Condition
- fair
- Acquisition date
- 1914
- Department
- Egypt and Sudan
- BM/Big number
- EA52947
- Registration number
- 1914,0216.9