Faience, which dates back to pre-
dynastic times, of at least 5,000 years,
is a glasslike non-clay substance made
of materials common to Egypt: ground
quartz, crushed quartz pebbles, flint, a
soluble salt-like baking soda, lime and
ground copper, which provided the
characteristic color. The dried objects
went into kilns looking pale and
colorless but emerged a sparkling
"Egyptian blue." Called tjehnet by the
ancient Egyptians, meaning that which is
brilliant or scintillating, faience was
thought to be filled with the undying
light of the sun, moon and stars and was
symbolic of rebirth. Ancient Egyptians
believed the small blue-green objects
helped prepare them for eternity in the
afterlife.
The body of this gorgeous turquoise-hued
faience vessel has a cylindrical form
that tapers downward and flares outwards
at the base. The cylindrical jar is one
of the most common forms of Egyptian
containers that were first created in
terracotta and later carved from stone.
Generally, these types of vessels were
used to contain valuable unguents, as is
likely with this beautiful example.
From the 6th Dynasty onwards, lids
appeared. This ointment jar features an
internally rimmed lid that fits securely
into the mouth of the container. Thus,
such jars were meant not only to hold,
but also to preserve their precious
contents. Considering the diminutive
nature of this container, it most
probably functioned specifically as a
funerary offering, standing in place of
its larger, everyday counterpart.
Surely this interpretation would be in
keeping with the luxury of the material
and the presence of the text. Faience
works were often interred with the
deceased in order to provide for the
afterlife, so that we would continue to
be surrounded in the next world with the
things we held dear in this one.
- (X.0332)
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