C-Ware – slender beaker, with applied figurines C-0344
By Droux, Xavier
Archaeological site unknown.
1995–2004 : Collection Roland Crammer (by descent), Switzerland. 2004–2014 : Exhibited at the Antikenmuseum in Basel (inv. no. BSAE 983). 2004–2025 : Prince Collection. 26.01.2025 : Sold by Apollo Art Auctions, London.Collection unknown, (private collection?) (BSAE 983).
Date : Naqada IA–IIB
General range of C-ware production
Material : Nile silt (Painted)
Preservation : Almost complete
Decoration preservation : Very good
Preservation information :
The exterior surface is slightly abraded in places; damages to the rim and two of the four original figurines are missing. The horns of the figurines are all broken off, their tip missing.
Description
Two figurines of mammals, most likely bulls, stand on the rim; the attachements for two more figurines are visible on the rim.
Decoration
The decoration occupies almost the entire height of the exterior surface of the vessel. At the top, it is bordered by a pair of horizontal concentric lines; it is then organised in vertical pannels.
One of the figurines stands exactly above two panels filled in the same manner with four groups of upturned chevrons each; these groups consist of between four and six chevrons each. To the left and right of these panels, the same plant motif is represented once: each is a long, vertical stems with four pairs raised, stylised leaves with oval shape, featuring pointed ends. Each leaf is filled with parallel hashing.
One plant (to the left of the first two panels described above) is followed to the left by another set of two panels filled with four groups of upturned chevrons; the front leg of the second bull are placed above this area. Further to the left is first a vertical series of single, downturned, crosshatched triangles and, finally, a single panel filled with four groups of upturned chevrons.
Dimensions (cm)
22.8
8.8
8.8
L of figurines: 5.5; 6.5
Additional information
Restricted
Vi 39
Oi 100
flat base
Outside
References
(ed.).
1997
Ägypten, Augenblicke der Ewigkeit: unbekannte Schätze aus Schweizer Privatbesitz. Exhibition catalogue, Antikenmuseum Basel. Mainz & Basel
, 24–25, cat. 5.2021
A hippopotamus in a dish: Predynastic bowl Cairo Museum JE 85928 and aspects of hippopotamus symbolism in predynastic Egypt, in: Buchez, N. & Tristant, Y. (eds.), Rochecouste, O. (coll.), Égypte Antérieure. Mélanges de préhistoire et d’archéologie offerts à Béatrix Midant-Reynes par ses étudiants, collègues et amis, Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 304. Leuven
, 305–310, table 1, no. 4.