Coiled Basketry Through Time in Ancient Egypt – Second Intermediate Period
The Petrie Museum contains a number of coiled baskets pertaining to the Second Intermediate Period, though only one set of a basket and a lid will be presently described. The first is a partial lid and a small, decayed round basket pertaining to Sedment. The diameter of the lid is 13.5 centimeters in diameter while the basket appears to be approximately 15 centimeters in diameter. Both appear to be tightly coiled and wrapped. The addition of wax to the material, which was not specified in either object, is unique to this basket set, though its presence is not explained (Artifact UC28409ii and Artifact UC28409i).
The Institut de Papyrologie et D’Égyptologie at the Université de Lille in France also houses a Second Intermediate Period basket. The basket pertains to Nubia. There is a conical lid with a flat top that sports a mop of fabric that serves as a handle. The basket itself is half-spherical with six holes in the rim that would probably have been for cords or braids to secure the lid. The wrappings are very taught, as are the coils themselves. It appears the wrappings are threaded through the spaces between their counterparts on previous coils, not through them (Artifact L689).
© 2011, Page Strong. All rights reserved.
That's a Wrap!
Questions? E-mail the Scribe!
About The Author
Comments