Decorated ostrich egg

Decorated ostrich egg

Decorated ostrich eggs date mainly from the second millennium BC, and the majority are decorated with dots and white lines, or black zig-zag lines; eggs bearing incised lines, spirals and even animal outlines are much rarer. The egg in Brussels is decorated with 37 engraved spirals, running from the base to the top of the shell. The purpose of this type of object is unknown.

Present location KMKG - MRAH [07/003] BRUSSELS

Inventory number E.2338

Dating MIDDLE KINGDOM (not before); NEW KINGDOM

Archaeological Site UNKNOWN

Category OSTRICH EGG

Material SHELL (OSTRICH EGG)

Technique ENGRAVED

Height 14 cm

Width 11 cm

Bibliography•S. Hendrickx, in T. Phillips, Africa. The Art of a Continent (Exposition Londres 1995), Munich-New York-Londres 1995, 78 n° 1.37

globalegyptianmuseum