Not currently on display at the V&A

Miniature

c. 1550 BC - c. 1292 BC (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Since the earliest stages of Egyptian history, fruit and vegetables had formed part of the offerings given to the deceased to ensure they were provisioned for the Afterlife, be these actual foodstuffs or depictions of such on tomb walls and stelae. Model fruits were also offered in place of real (and perishable) items.

This model fruit was one of many items found deposited at the mortuary temple of Deir el-Bahari during the New Kingdom. They were deposited as votive offerings, placed in the shrine to the goddess Hathor within the temple complex. The turquoise colour typical of glazed composition was considered appropriate for this goddess, one of whose Epithets was 'Lady of Turquoise'.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Glazed composition
Brief description
Miniature votive dom palm fruit, blue glazed composition, Deir el-Bahari, Egypt, New Kingdom
Physical description
Blue glazed composition model fruit, probably a dom palm fruit. Portions of the surface glaze have come away to reveal the body material beneath.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 3.8cm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
Transliteration
.
Credit line
Given by the Egypt Exploration Fund.
Object history
Found at Deir el-Bahari, 1904-5 excavation season.
Summary
Since the earliest stages of Egyptian history, fruit and vegetables had formed part of the offerings given to the deceased to ensure they were provisioned for the Afterlife, be these actual foodstuffs or depictions of such on tomb walls and stelae. Model fruits were also offered in place of real (and perishable) items.

This model fruit was one of many items found deposited at the mortuary temple of Deir el-Bahari during the New Kingdom. They were deposited as votive offerings, placed in the shrine to the goddess Hathor within the temple complex. The turquoise colour typical of glazed composition was considered appropriate for this goddess, one of whose Epithets was 'Lady of Turquoise'.
Bibliographic references
  • B. Adams, Egyptian Objects in the Victoria and Albert Museum (Warminster, 1977): 38
  • On votive fruits and other food offerings see G. Pinch, Votive Offerings to Hathor (Oxford, 1993): 283-4; W.C. Hayes, The Scepter of Egypt. From the Earliest Times to the End of the Middle Kingdom (New York, 1978): 337-8, Fig. 225
Collection
Accession number
669-1905

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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