Fayoum / Figurine / Bitumen / Clay (unfired)

About this Item

Record Details

Object Identifier: 0000.00.6969
Object Name: Figurine
Lot: University of Michigan excavation (Karanis)
Collections: Kelsey Permanent Artifact Collections
Object Type: Figurines
Materials: Bitumen; Clay (unfired)
Inscribed: no
Full Artifact Description: Hollow molded fragment from a single mold, of reddish brown clay (Munsell 5YR 5/4) with the reverse hand-shaped to fit the front wall. The nose, right foot and left leg are missing. The hands are abraded and there are spots of bitumen and scattered nicks on the figure.; The piece depicts the figure of a dwarf leaning on a sphere which is probably meant to be recognized as the head of his phallus. The figure stands with his legs widespread, chin jutted out, and hands folded across the sphere. He is garbed in a knee-length garment. At the groin the testicles are built up in the plaster, now partially worn away. The head is large with mask-like features; forehead scored with deep furrows,bulky distorted eyebrows, emphatic cheekbones pulling the skin taut, lips very large and schematically rendered. The hair is closely cropped. The reverse is indicated and fitted at the neck with a loop for suspension. The figure is probably meant to be apotropaic.
Verbatim Date: 1st C BC - 1st C AD
Verbatim Provenance: Egypt
Verbatim Site: Fayoum
Countermark: no
Type Category: Artifact

Technical Details

Collection: Kelsey Museum of Archaeology Art & Artifact Collection
Record: 0000.00.6969
Link to this Item: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/kelsey/x-0000.00.6969/0000_00_6969p03.tif

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Full citation: "Fayoum; Figurine; Bitumen; Clay (unfired)." In the digital collection Kelsey Museum of Archaeology Art & Artifact Collection. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/kelsey/x-0000.00.6969/0000_00_6969p03.tif. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 23, 2024.