Egypt Exploration Society

The Ointment Spoons in the Egyptian Section of the British Museum Author(s): Madeleine Frdricq Source: The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 13, No. 1/2 (Apr., 1927), pp. 7-13 Published by: Egypt Exploration Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3854355 Accessed: 24/09/2009 09:48
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THE OINTMENT SPOONS IN THE EGYPTIAN SECTION OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM

BY MADELEITNEFRID]RICQ With Plates iii-ix. The richness and variety of the decoration of Egyptian ointment spoons justify' a special study of these products of industrial art. Few objects indeed display more decorative imagination; it would seem that the observation of the artist is constantly on the alert to discover some new method of treatment or to give fresh detail to a theme already employed. The decoration of these trifling objects, never intended to play any part outside the limits of the private life of the Egyptian, throws a singularly brilliant light on the surroundings in which his existence was passed. Here there is no preoccupation with the effect to be produced, no convention which the artist must follow; the pure delight of the eyes inspires these little masterpieces. Their diversity and the richness of their ornamentation do as much credit to those who executed them as to the public whose requirements were of so refined a nature, and it is surprisingly instructive, to those who would properly understand the artistic sense of an entire race, to observe this common striving towards beauty applied to the most trifling details of private life. The artist who conceived these implements of a few centimetres in length succeeded in introducing into their ornamentation an infinite number of combinations; sometimes they take their theme from the flora or fauna of the country; at other times one finds represented on the handles of the spoons male figures treated with a consummate knowledge of pose, or female figures rendered with a freedom of expression and a suppleness of movement which raise an everyday object to the level of a work of art. The British Museum possesses a remarkable collection of ointment spoons. In this single group the diversity of types which is offered us enables us to appreciate the full importance of their decoration. The present catalogue is only the first stage of a more extended study. It presents in itself a collection the diversity of which will not fail to astonish the reader accustomed only to conceive of the ointment spoons as represented by the few examples constantly represented in text-books of Egyptian art. I propose, in a more comprehensive work, to describe and illustrate photographically as many spoons as possible, to group the subjects which have been used in their decoration, to study the material of which they are made, to determine the period at which they appeared in Egyptian civilization and that during which they had their greatest vogue, and to draw, it may be, from their examination, some conclusions as to the evolution of Egyptian art as a whole, all of which questions it would be premature to treat on the strength of the examination of about fifty examples. The examination will only be complete when one has been able to compare the spoons of the British Museum with those of the Louvre and the museums of Berlin and Cairo. I take this opportunity of thanking heartily Dr. H. R. Hall, Keeper of the Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities in the British Museum, who has enabled me to undertake this work by authorizing me

Plate III. 5974 5973

5975
Scale 5973 and 5974, c. 5975 and 5955, c.

5955

Ointment-spoons in the British Museum.

MADELEINE FRtDDERICQ

to publish for the first time the beautiful collection of spoons in his care; also the Egypt Exploration Society, who have agreed to accept this article in their Journal and have illustrated it with such a large number of remarkable photographs. In addition to the spoons described below, the British Museum possesses two examples of spoons which Mile Mogensen of Copenhagen is to publish (Nos. 37924, 38188).
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
BUDGE. A Guide to the Third and Fourth Egyptian Rooms of the British Museum,London, 1904, 84-85

(quoted as Guide). de J. CAPART, L'art et la parure dans l'ancienne Egypte. (Bulletin de la SocieteArchgologique Bruxelles,
tome 29, 1907, 325, Fig. 10.) H. FECHHEIMER, Die Kleinplastik der Aegypter, Berlin, 1921, 144. W. Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians, 1878, II, 13-16 and 45-46. WILKINSON, DESCRIPTION1

5975. P1. iii. Ivory. Lth. 12-4 cm. Spoon consisting of an oval-shaped bowl edged by a dog-tooth design. The handle is formed of 7 stems of water plants. Two flower buds complete the bunch, joined by two ties in the middle of the stems. Two birds fill the angles formed by the bowl and the handle. Bowl broken in the upper part. Handle intact. 5957. P1. v. Ivory. Lth. 9'5 cm. Fragment of a spoon; small male figure, naked and full face, carrying on its head a mussel-shaped shell which it supports with both arms raised. The right arm is broken.
The figure rests on a floral capital which must have surmounted a round and thin stem.

The right arm is missing, as also is the handle of the spoon. 5955. P1. iii. Ivory. Lth. 11 cm. Spoon with a circular bowl edged by a dog-tooth design. The handle consists of a Hathor-head seen full face. The head is adorned with two uraei. The angles between the bowl and the handle are filled by lotus flowers surmounted by Mimusops fruit. The handle has possibly been shortened. 5963. Ivory. Lth. 27-5 cm. Small spoon in the form of an elongated shell (mussel) with a circular stem ending
in a duck's head.
WILKINSON, op. cit., II, 46, Fig. 312, 3.

32147. Ivory. Lth. 6-5 cm. Small spoon in the form of a duck or goose trussed for sacrifice. The body is hollowed out and forms the receptacle. The feet are bent round on to the back of the body, on which are also two hands, with arms stretched out and broken above the neck; these must have belonged to a female swimmer forming the handle of the spoon. 5972. P1. iv. Wood. Lth. 5-7 cm. Fragment of a spoon in the form of a lotus flower with a bud on each side-trace of a pivot at the base of the flower. The central subject, consisting of the full blown flower, forms the lid of the bowl. On the back of this two open hands coming from out-stretched arms (broken) indicate that the handle of the spoon was formed by a female swimmer
1 The spoons are described in the order in which they were exhibited at the moment of my visit, and the numbers given are those of the Inventory.

Plate IV.

5965

5972 Ointment-spoons in the British Museum.

Scale: c. j.

5966

Plate V. 5956 5957

.r .

5976

50985 Ointment-spoons in the British Museum.

Scale: e. i.. Scale' c.

5967

5968

THE OINTMENT

SPOONS

IN THE BRITISH

MUSEUM

9 Handle

pushing before her a bouquet of flowers. Trace of incrustation in green paste. broken off. WILKINSON, op. cit., II, 46, Fig. 312. 26783. Wood. Lth. 13 cm. Circular bowl with handle undecorated and splintered.

38189. Wood. Lth. 10-5 cm. Fragment of a spoon consisting of a lotus surmounted by the fruit of the Mimusops. The whole forms a lid with traces of rivets at the base and at the top. Trace of inthe petals. The handle and the bowl are missing

crustationin green and white paste, green for the petals and white for the interstices of
5976. PI. v. Wood. Ht. 13-5 cm. Spoon of indefinable shape; does not seem to be a floral motif; might be a reminiscence of the sceptre. Decoration of the bowl and of the handle formed by four groups of incised bands, of which three are on the handle. WILKINSON, op. cit., in, 45, Fig. 31. 5968. P1. v. Wood. Lth. 15 cm. Spoon with oval-shaped bowl, the point turned down. Handle in the form of a lotus sceptre (?). Perhaps a representation of the sistrum. 5959. Wood. Lth. 8 cm. Spoon with circular bowl. Short handle formed by a hand holding a bowl. handle ends in a duck's head. From Thebes. The

5974. PI. iii. Wood. Ht. 145 cm. Spoon with circular decorated bowl. Two falcons right and left on the upper part of the rim. Handle formed by three flower stems held by two ties. Two flowers horizontally arranged fill the angles between bowl and handle. 5978. P1. vii. Wood. Ht. 13-5 cm. Spoon in form of royal cartouche. Bowl with border of dog-tooth. flowers supports the bowl. Traces of greenish blue incrustation. A cluster of

38186. PI. vi. Wood. Ht. 28-9 cm. Spoon in the form of a female swimmer of negroid type, pushing before her an aquatic fowl (duck?). Hair in plaits carried on to the back of the head. Round ear-rings. The lid, forming the wings of the duck, is missing. Traces of three rivets. Specimen damaged. Guide, 84, No. 36. 12564. Wood. Ht. 17 cm. Plain spoon with oval bowl; handle undecorated. 5967. PI. v. Wood. Lth. 16-5 cm. Bowl consisting of an elongated lotus bud, flanked by two smaller buds the stems of which are entwined round the principal stem forming the handle. H. FEaCfrrfTMER, op. cit., 150. 5960. Wood. Lth. 155 cm. Bowl in the form of a shell (mussel). The round handle ends in a duck's head drawn back on the stem. Handle broken in the middle; both fragments are preserved.
Journ. of Egypt. Arch. xiii.

10

MADELEINE FRIEDRICQ

5973. P1. iii. Wood. Ht. 12-3 cm. Spoon with round bowl edged by a zigzag pattern. The bowl has at its upper edge to right and left respectively a falcon with spread wings, and a quadruped lying down. Two lotus flowers are placed horizontally under the bowl. A single stem joins them, forming a loop, which constitutes a short handle. 5969. Wood. Ht. 11 cm. Fragment of spoon. Handle consisting of two flower stems coming from a plain basket1. The stems are broken before their opening into flowers or buds. They are fastened by two ties. Traces of incrustation in blue paste on the ties. The bowl and the flowers which hold it are missing. 5979. Wood. Ht. 11 cm. Bowl in the form of a royal cartouche with dog-tooth border. The cartouche is held by three lotus flowers the stems of which must have formed the handle. A horizontal bunch of flowers separates the handle from the cartouche. The handle is missing. 21968. Wood. Lth. 5-5 cm. Lid of circular spoon: rosette or open flower on a stippled background, interspersed with a decoration of half and quarter petals. Two incised lines surround the design. The object doubtless served as a lid to a spoon with a circular bowl, now lost. At the back there still adheres some hard matter (soapstone? wood?) torn from the receptacle which the lid covered. 4720. Serpentine of greenish grey colour. Lth. 10'5 cm. Fish with ointment-cavity sunk in the hollowed-out body: incised scales and fins above and below. No sign of lid. 5970. Wood. Lth. 10 cm. Oval bowl edged with a dog-tooth border. Of the handle there remains only a lotus flower supporting a cluster of flowers placed horizontally. Handle partly broken, also cluster. Bowl chipped. 5971. Wood. Lth. 10 cm. Oval bowl surrounded by a flat rim decorated with lotus flowers and buds. Handle broken at the base of the bowl, which is itself chipped. Trace of incrustation of blue paste. 5954. P1. vii. Wood. Ht. 18-8 cm. Spoon with representation of the god Bes. Oval-shaped bowl, the point turned downwards, surrounded by a dog-tooth design and held by a cluster of flowers. Rivet at the base of the bowl. Two aquatic fowl, one on each side of the cluster, join the bowl to the handle. The handle consists of a figure of Bes seen full face in the usual squatting attitude, the two hands on the thighs. Two lotus flowers and two buds form a portico. Trace of blue in the flowers and in the dog-tooth and the beard, and of red in the buds. The lid is missing. Guide, 84, No. 49; WILKINSON, op. cit., II, 13, Fig. 382. 5962. P1. ix. Wood. Lth. 24 cm. Spoon with handle in the form of a human arm. Bowl consisting of a depression in the form of a shell. The index finger of the hand stretches out over the under part of 1 Whatwe supposeto be a basket is perhapsa verycompactbundleof stems the details of which
were originally shown by painting, now effaced.

-tn

0 0 0

'C' 0

00
ox

td
lll~

(D

U)

Plate VII.

5954

5953

5978 in the British Museum. Ointment-spoons

Scale: c. I.

5958

THE OINTMENT SPOONS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM

11

the bowl, the thumb over the upper. Finger nails indicated. The round handle ends in the head of a serpent (?). Guide, 84, No. 50. 5965. P1. iv. Wood and ivory. Lth. 30-4 cm. Spoon in the form of a made-up bouquet. Basket1 from which emerge two lotus flowers and three lotus buds, surmounted by six smaller buds (?). Four of them are formed of a pink substance applied on the wood in slight relief (no doubt painted ivory). Bunch of lotus flowers and leaves placed horizontally supports the oval bowl with dogtooth design. Ivory pivot at the base of the bowl. Ivory button at the top serves as knob to the lid, which is formed of lotus flowers surmounted by fruit of the Mimusops. Colours still very bright. Light green for the leaves and the basket, dark green for the flowers, bluish green for the dog-tooth design. Two shades of pink for the ivory applique (perhaps imitation of poppy petals, Papaver Rhoeas). Guide, 85, No. 52; WILKINSON, op. cit., II, 14, Fig. 283. 5966. P1. iv. Wood. Lth. 28 cm. The receptacle of the spoon consists of a lotus flowEr surmounted by fruit of the Mimusops. The flower and the Mimusops are in two parts, sliding the one on the other, and held by a pivot at the base of the flower. Two lotus buds flank the flower. The three stems forming the handle are held by a tie made of nine ribbons. Green incrustations for the sepals and the lines indicating the flowers and buds. The base of the flowers is painted red (not incrusted). In the same way, between the petals and on the Mimusops, touches of red separated by incised lines. The same decoration is reproduced on the back of the spoon, but merely indicated by lines and stippling incrusted with green. No large surfaces incrusted. Also traces of red. Guide, 85, No. 53; J. CAPART, op. cit., Fig. 10. 21972. PI. ix. Wood. Lth. 22 cm. Plain spoon, deep oval bowl. Handle in the form of the foot of an ox, ended by the hoof of the animal. 5961. Wood. Lth. 23 cm. Spoon formed by a shell held by a hand, the index finger stretched out under the back of the shell. The hand merges into an arm with four incrusted lines of green at the wrist, forming a bracelet. The handle ends in a duck's head bent back, decorated by three incrusted lines. In the shell a fish and some lotus flowers, incised in light and sketchy lines. 5953. PI. vii. Wood. Ht. 18 cm. Spoon representing the god Bes. Twin bowls in the form of two coupled cartouches. Birds and papyri are incised in the cartouches. Two figures of the god Bes, seen side face, looking towards each other, decorate the handle. They hold clubs in their hands; signs of protection hang from their arms. Each figure is in a separate frame decorated by incised lines. In the outer angle of each frame the sign nefer. Remains of incrustation of white paste still fill the incised lines. In the bowls, remains of wax (?) or ointment (?). Guide, 85, No. 56. 5958. P1. vii. Wood. Lth. 18 cm. Spoon in the form of a royal cartouche. Bowl with edge decorated by three lines which once contained coloured matter. Two fish (face to face) and aquatic flowers are
I The same remark applies as for the basket previously described under No. 5969. See p. 10, note 1.

12

MADELEINE FRIEDERICQ

incised in the bowl. Traces of greenish blue paste incrusted in the lines. The short handle is formed by a gazelle seen from the side and lying down, the fore-part turned towards the right. The bent head rests between the feet. From Memphis. WILKINSON, op. cit., II, 15, Fig. 285. 5956. PI. v. Wood. Lth. 15-5 cm. Portion of spoon. Bowl of irregular form, perhaps suggesting the corolla of a flower. Traces of four rivets, two at the base and two at the top. On the handle small female figure, naked and front face. Eyes incrusted with paste, white for the eye-ball, black for the iris. The bowl is placed on the head of the figure. The lifted arms are broken. The tips of the feet are missing. Specimen defective and very much damaged. 5977. Wood. Lth. 13 cm. Bowl in the form of a royal cartouche. No handle. Specimen very much damaged. 42156. Black composition. Lth. 4'4 cm. Bowl in the form of fruits (grapes?). 5951. Ivory. Lth. 13 cm. Duck in ivory; head drawn baok; body hollowed out to form the bowl. Three lines round the bowl, and traces of rivets. Hollowed surface no doubt contained incrusted paste. Lid missing, bowl very much chipped. 5952. P1. viii. Wood. Lth. 18:5 cm. Spoon with handle in the form of a fish. Round and shallow bowl, without decoration, and very much damaged. The handle in the form of a fish with dorsal fin. Two lotus flowers fill the angles formed by the bowl and the handle. The back is not decorated. The lid is very much deteriorated. Trace of rivet. From Thebes. Guide, 85, No. 63;
WILKINSON, op. cit., II, 16, Fig. 260.

26770. Wood. Lth. 13 cm. Spoon in the form of a duck. Traces of two rivets near the head and the tail. The body, hollowed out, forms the receptacle. Dog-tooth decoration round the bowl. Traces of incrustations of black and green paste. The bent back head has disappeared. The lid is missing. 38187. P1. viii. Wood. Lth. 23 cm. Spoon with handle in the form of a jackal or dog, a large shell held in its mouth forming the bowl. Four lines form a collar on the animal's neck. The head is seen from above and is consequently symmetrical. The body is turned sideways, seen from the right; the tail is thick and long. The two fore paws are placed symmetrically one above and one below the bowl. The hairs of the tail and the coat of the animal are shown on the front and back of the representation by incised lines. Guide, 85, No. 65; WILKINSON, op. cit., II, 16, Fig. 387 (mentioned as belonging to Mr. Salt). 5945. P1. viii. Wood. Lth. 26'5 cm. Spoon in the form of a dog holding a fish by the tail. The fish, which constitutes the receptacle, is composed of two parts, one of which forms the lid; the body is hollowed out. The fins, tail and scales are indicated by incised lines and hollows still containing greenish blue paste which has served as incrustation. A rivet holds the lid to the tail; another, placed near the head, forms a knob to the lid. The dog's (or jackal's) head seen from above is symmetrical, while the body is seen from the left. A large collar with

Plate VIII.

38187

5945 Ointment-spoons in the British Museum.

Scale: c. i.

5952

Plate IX. 20757

5949
Scale:

5962
c.

21972

Ointment-spoons in the British Museum.

-5.

THE OINTMENT

SPOONS

IN THE BRITISH

MUSEUM

13

incrusted notches adorns its neck. The fish is seen from the side. Same decoration on the back of the spoon with indication of collar, scales, fins, and tail. Guide, 85, No. 66; H. FEOsLkuaMER, cit., 144. op. 26368. Turquoise blue fayence. Shade lighter on the back. Lth. 4 cm. Spoon in the form of a quadruped bound for sacrifice. A cavity in the body forms the bowl. The head is missing; the remains of a horn are still attached to the back. The reverse is well finished. 5949: P1. ix. Wood. Lth. 11 cm. Spoon in the form of a goose or duck, the feet bent back under the body, which is hollowed out into a deep cavity. The head is turned to the right and bent back along the body. Lid with simply decorated border. Peg holding the lid to the base of the neck. Trace of rivet or stud on the opposite side and on the tail. The reverse side is carefully finished, and the feet are indicated. 20757. P1. ix. Wood. Lth. 165 cm. Spoon in the form of a gazelle with feet bound for the sacrifice; the head turned to the right. The animal seems to be uttering a cry. Admirably realistic treatment of the muscles of the neck. The ears are deeply separated from the neck and the head. The body is hollowed out and forms the bowl. The horns are broken. The lid is missing; nothing indicates that there was one. No trace of rivet. 21940. Serpentine. Lth. 6 cm. Spoon in the form of a fish, with incised indications of scales, eye, mouth, fins, and tail. The part forming the back of the animal in particular is carefully finished; it seems therefore to have formed the lid of a lost receptacle. Tail chipped. 21969. Wood. Lth. 9-5 cm. Spoon with circular bowl decorated with three lines. At the upper end of the bowl on each side a decorative design. On the right an indistinct broken object, on the left an aquatic fowl. The handle, formed of flowers, is broken, the flower on the left hand still exists, as also part of the stem of that on the right hand. The handle no doubt presented the same form as that of spoon No. 5973. 5964. Ivory. Lth. 6 cm. Small spoon with plain circular bowl without decoration. curtailed. Circular handle. Bowl chipped. Stem

50985. P1. v. Wood. Lth. 258 cm. Fragment of a very beautiful spoon with a female figure. The rectangular bowl has a flat rim decorated with a spear-head design. The bottom of the bowl is decorated with a lightly incised design of aquatic fowl; water is indicated. The handle, split from top to bottom like the bowl, shows the left arm of a young girl playing an instrument of music. A fragment of short plaited hair is also visible. The left leg is bent and naked. The rest of the decoration on the left is constituted by umbels of papyrus emerging from a basket (?) adorned with a spear-head decoration. Trace of green-blue paste in the decoration of the bowl, in the basket, and in the flowers. Half of the spoon has disappeared from top to bottom.