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HOME :
Egyptian Antiquities :
New Kingdom : Fragment of a Wall Panel Depicting Three Birds
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Fragment of a Wall Panel Depicting Three Birds - SK.029
Origin: Egypt
Circa: 1550
BC
to 1075
BC
Dimensions:
3.8" (9.7cm) high
x 5.8" (14.7cm) wide
Collection: Egyptian
Medium: Stone
£7,500.00
Location: UAE
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| Description |
It was during the New Kingdom era that ancient
Egypt reached the height of its power and
military prowess. Territorial expansion into the
Middle East and Nubia gave rise to phenomenal
wealth and diversity within its own boundaries.
The art of this period is exceptional in terms of
the beauty of its execution and faithfulness to
detail. This fragment, originally from the wall of
a tomb or temple, is no exception. The surviving
scene depicts a hand grasping three birds by
their feathers. The body of the bird in the
foreground is visible; the presence of the other
two is indicated by their heads and necks. The
composition, with the birds facing in different
directions, adds a liveliness and dynamism to the
scene. There are several possibilities as to the
appearance of the panel in its original state.
Visual representations of hunting were common
in ancient Egypt, as it was thought to
demonstrate the power and courage of the
participants. Alternatively the birds may be
offered as a votive gift to an unseen deity (the
structure on the left is difficult to interpret in its
current state). Traces of the original polychromy
survive on the wrist and hand. Egyptian artists
were fascinated by the natural world and this
piece is a wonderful example of their skill in
depicting it. (AM)
- (SK.029)
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