HB2/2 - Egyptian Arch. Box - page 2

HB2 - Napoleon's 1798 Egyptian Campaign - Archeologist's Box
Page 2

The artifacts that Alexandre Lenoir would have collected, as would be expected, range in age, origin and purpose as these artifacts depict. The photo to the right shows all the artifacts displayed outside of the box. They range in size from a very small Eye of Horus faience* amulet to the large wooden Mummy Masks and Ushabtis with traces of gesso*. Many of the artifacts come from other areas in the region such as Greece, Turkey and Italy and would have been traded and sold in the Mediterranean area trade routes. The artifacts are for utilitarian purposes but also for religious and funerary needs. Below you will see in detail the craftmanship and quality of these ancient artifacts.

*Faience - A material that is made from a mixture of ground quartz (sand crystals) along with other elements such as potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium and copper oxide. The mixture can then be molded into any shape such as amulets, beads or figurines. When molded, the items are then heated, making the pieces harden and often developing brightly colored objects with a fine glaze. The color of the glaze is determined by the mixture of compound elements used with the ground quartz.

*Gesso - A white substance made with mineral gypsum mixed with glue. The mixture was used to smooth-out roughness in a piece, such as wood, to be finely painted. If an object was very rough, a fine layer of linen was first applied to the object before the gesso layer and then it was painted to its desired detailed finish. Many objects are found in varying degrees of decomposition of a painted artifact. Some with little lose and others with the top layer of paint gone, leaving only traces of original paint and gesso.

A closer overview of the artifacts on display in the three photos below .

Below:

Larger of the two removable trays.

This tray consists of two small, lidded compartments with an open section and sliding tops to cover two side sections. This area of the tray would hold items needed by the owner such as ink well, pen and eyeglasses. Stored in the compartments is a white faience Ushabti funerary figure, a bronze makeup or medical utensil. To the left of the utensil are ten various amulets with hieroglyphs and to the right are eleven stone seals with suspension holes.

Below:

Smaller of the two removable trays

This tray has two lidded compartments on the ends with a divided open area in the center. The large portrait pendant is that of Queen Nefertiti. It is made from precious green jade, ivory and silver. This piece is not ancient, made in the 20th century, but fits well in the collection. Outside of the tray on the left are three bronze molded pieces. The tall one represents the Egyptian deity Osiris - God of the underworld representing death and resurrection. The bronze figure next to the side of the tray is Anubus - the standing man with jackal head associated with death and funerals. The other small bronze is a zoomorphic pendant. To the right of the bronze pieces are stone beads and pendant.

Left:

The eleven stone seals are impression stamps used to show ownership and for important documents. They would identify an individual, family or group. Often worn on the individual. They range from different cultures such as the Halaf, Bactrian Sasanian and Babylonian.

Right:

To the right is a closeup photo of the 10 faience amulets as shown above. Seven of the amulets are scarab beetles with inscribed hieroglyphs on the underside. Two of the amulets are Zoomorphic, one in the form of a toad and the other a reposed lion; both have inscribed hieroglyphs. The last amulet is a very small Eye of Horus bead.

Below:

Concentrating on the center photo below is a nice mix of utilitarian and funerary items. Excluding the wonderful, aged brush, starting on the left we have a small alabaster vial, a beautiful black faience Ushabti, a fractured pharaonic bust done in limestone, 2 - clay molded oil burning lamps and finally another alabaster container with side handles.

Below and Right:

Pictured in these photos are alabaster molds from the ancient Bactrian region to the east of Egypt. Each mold consists of a hollowed base and a top pour lid. Also in the photo on the right are two intact Roman glass vials.

Also in the right photo is the bronze Roman ring and Egyptian alabaster vial.