C-Ware – slender beaker, with applied figurines C-0344

By Droux, Xavier

Archaeological site unknown.
Before 1923 : Collection Ernest Cramer, Switzerland. Until 2004 : Cramer family collection, by descent. 2004–2025 : Collection Sheikh Saud Al Thani, Qatar. 2004–2014 : Long term loan at the Antikenmuseum, Basel (inv. no. BSAE 983). 26.01.2025 : Sold by Apollo Art Auctions, London.

Geneva, Fondation Gandur pour l'Art, FGA-ARCH-EG-0693.

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, between each animal.

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.