Stone vessel – zoomorphic, fragmentary frog (?) STO-0010
By Glenister, Jacob
Archaeological site unknown.
Purchased by Petrie in Egypt.London, Petrie Museum, UC 15212.
Date : Naqada II (?)
Probably Naqada IID, but damage and lack of context make identification difficult.
Material : Limestone
Preservation : Fragmentary
Decoration preservation : Partly lost
Preservation information :
The top and most of one side of the vessel are missing. The eye inlays, lug handles, and rim, if ever present, are lost.
Description
The body of the frog is more elongated, and the hollow larger, than other frog-shaped vessels, so that the identification of the species is not certain. There is one drilled hole near the top, behind the front left leg, which may suggest this object was designed to be suspended, or that a cover could be fixed over its top and attached with a string passed through this hole (and likely other holes that are not preserved).
Decoration
The eyes are represented by two seemingly small carved depressions; they may have once held inlays but these are not preserved. The mouth is indicated by a longitudinal line carved at the tip of the head. The legs are incised narrowly against the side of the vessel; it is unclear if toes are carved. Other decoration, if ever present, is lost.
Dimensions (cm)
8
Additional information
convexe base
Outside
Acknowledgements
We thank the Petrie Museum for providing the high resolution photograph pubished here.
