ECM.1874-2010
Parts
Object number
ECM.1874-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
Ancient Egyptian knife
Description
Ripple flaked knife with sheathed handle, roughly chipped to shape
Comments
Formerly case A, 24 (a)
Ripple-flaked knives of this type—roughly chipped to shape, the surfaces ground smooth and one face then flaked with immense control to produce the effect which gives this object-class its name—were produced over a period of around 200 years from the end of Naqada II into Naqada III. When employed as grave goods they were often broken to prevent reuse and deter robbery of the dead. A number are known with elaborately carved handles of hippopotamus ivory slotted over the tang. Gold foil mountings, as here, are encountered very infrequently.
Ripple-flaked knives of this type—roughly chipped to shape, the surfaces ground smooth and one face then flaked with immense control to produce the effect which gives this object-class its name—were produced over a period of around 200 years from the end of Naqada II into Naqada III. When employed as grave goods they were often broken to prevent reuse and deter robbery of the dead. A number are known with elaborately carved handles of hippopotamus ivory slotted over the tang. Gold foil mountings, as here, are encountered very infrequently.
Description
Dimensions
Width: 5.9cm
Material
Stone
flint
metal
gold
flint
metal
gold
Physical description
Finely worked knife of honey coloured flint, one face ripple flaked, the other ground smooth; the grip with a covering of thick gold foil, made in two pieces joined by folding, with a separate strip of gold foil to the back of the blade
History and association
Associated person
Myers, William Joseph, 1858 - 1899 (Compiler)
Object history note
Exhibited at the Roemer-und Pelizaeus Museum, Hildesheim, Germany, "Meisterwerke agyptischer kunst schatze aus dem Myers Museum an Eton College", April 2004 - January 2005
Field collection
Collection place
Egypt
