Monday, December 5, 2016

A Study in Faience Figures

If you were to fly over the ancient tombs in Egypt, from the Middle Kingdom, and allowed visual access to their contents, you would see a myriad of objects. Among these unique pieces, you would find many items crafted out of faience.  Faience is the decorated tin-glazed earthenware seen throughout Egyptian art exhibitions.  Due to the brilliance of the Ancient Egyptians, it is no surprise that this creative technique is actually a self-glazing ceramic. After the piece is formed, the artist begins the drying process where the “sodium in the wet paste comes to the surface as it dries and forms a glaze when it is fired in the kiln.[i]”  This unique medium allows the artist to create an object that can be fired and glazed in a single process.
Each of these tombs are filled with numerous figurines created using faience, each believed to serve a specific purpose for the deceased. Individually, these objects are unique in their form, however, each piece in this exhibit share a common thread based on the medium. Though these objects vary in form, they appear to exist in a parallel function.  It is commonly understood that these figures were apotropaic, that is, created to ward off evil in the life after death. Focusing on their intended purpose, this exhibition explores a small sample of the faience figurines found in tombs from the Middle Kingdom.
Unknown, The Standing Hippopotamus, ca. 1961-1878 B.C.E., Faience, 17.9.1

A few art historians and archaeologists have constructed ideas pertaining to the intended purpose of The Standing Hippopotamus. Most agree that this little figure, was placed in tombs to protect the dead.  Ancient Egyptians believed in a life after death and wanted to do everything possible to allow it to be marked by success.  As a culture, whose identity centered around the Nile River, any predators that might prevent people from utilizing the gift of the Nile, were very much feared.  One of the biggest predators to life on the Nile, are hippopotami. As such, there was a constant struggle of trying to defeat the feared beasts.  This is why throughout Egyptian art, we see characters at war with the hippopotamus. People would place this figure in the tomb to give the deceased person power over the hippopotamus in his or her afterlife. Some critics have posed the idea that the legs (now reattached) were intentionally broken off.  This would ensure the deceased would not only be unaffected by them, but would have full dominance over the powerful creatures in the life to come.
Unknown, Cat Figurine, ca. 1981-1802 B.C.E., Faience, 26.7.902

In Ancient Egypt, deities were depicted in various forms.  One common representation was in the form of a feline.  In the Early Dynastic Period, cat figures were placed around temples. In the Middle Kingdom, there was a new belief that placing an image of their deity in the tomb would give the person power in the next life. This figurine was likely placed in a tomb to protect the dead from all danger after death.  Egyptians believed that the presence of the image of their deity would serve as a protector for their loved ones.
Unknown, Jerboa Figurine, ca. 1850-1700 B.C.E., Faience, 15.3.127

In Middle Kingdom Egypt, another familiar image was the jerboa, which was of special significance to the culture.  This animal is generally depicted in the same way this figure is seen, sitting on hind legs, front paws raised.  Though it is a typical pose that this rodent used when eating, it is also a symbol of prayer.  Many Egyptians formed jerboa figures in this position as a sign of prayer. Typically, it was interpreted that the jerboas were praying to the sun god.  People would place this figure, and others like it, in the burial chamber with the hope that the deceased would one day be friends with the solar deity.
Unknown, Figure of a Female Dwarf, ca. 1981-1640 B.C.E., Faience, 1972.48

Just as certain animals were depicted for religious purposes, Ancient Egyptians had particular beliefs about dwarfs and pygmies. Based on their short stature, it was assumed that they possessed special powers of magic. Similar to the other figures, it could have been placed in tombs to give special magical powers to the deceased. However, it is believed that this particular figure was placed on the belly of a pregnant woman to help in childbirth.  This is another representation of a naturalistic figure, that people in the Middle Kingdom would recognize.  Egyptians used this dwarf figurine in the belief that it would help pregnant women in times of distress.
Unknown, Statue of a Female Figure, ca. 1850-1640 B.C.E., Faience, 08.200.18

Unlike the Figure of a Female Dwarf, this Statue of a Female Figure was created specifically for burial chambers.  It was believed that by placing this figure in proximity with the dead, it would give reproductive powers, therefore allowing for a new life after death. It is important to note that similar to the Standing Hippopotamus, this figure’s legs have been broken off.  While the hippo’s legs have been recreated in later years, this figure continues to persist with legs absent.  This brings to light a question pertaining to the object’s intended purpose.  As with each of this objects from the distant past, it can be hard to find definitive answers.  But these two pieces beg the question of what the user believed and what purpose did removing the legs actually serve? This figure though intended for the burial chamber, seems to serve a larger purpose.
Unknown, Lion Figure, ca. 1750 B.C.E., Faience, 22.1.178

This faience lion, though bleak, served a similar purpose to its turquoise counterparts. Small lion figures like this one were created in reference to the Egyptians god Bes, known to protect women and children.  Typically, it is depicted as a lion, or as a dwarf with a lion’s head. There is evidence pointing to various anthropomorphic depictions of a lion-dwarf hybrid. A lion such as this figure, would typically be placed in the tomb, sharing a similar function as the Standing Hippopotamus, to protect the dead from evil forces. These pieces were sacred objects that loved ones truly hoped would bring great blessings to the deceased.
Unknown, Hedgehog, ca. 1938-1700 B.C.E., Faience, Brooklyn Museum

This dainty hedgehog figure from the Middle Kingdom, is another typical animal represented during this period.  Hedgehogs live in dens, but their behavior is based on food. When there is an abundance of food, hedgehogs roam about freely. In times of scarcity, they usually retreat to their homes until the food situation changes.  Ancient Egyptians saw their emergence as a sign of rebirth, therefore associating the hedgehog with abundance and life. This is also an object that was discovered in a tomb, likely placed there to preserve the safety of the deceased. These objects, though different in form, serve very similar functions of preserving the body.  Each piece is believed to offer some power to the individual, leaving loved ones clinging steadfast to the hope that these objects provided preservation and prolonged blessings.


[i] Definition from Amy Waller Pottery at  http://www.amywallerpottery.com/faience.html

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