An Egyptian Blue Glazed Faience Tile, Old Kingdom, time of Djoser, ca. 2668 - 2649 BCE

This tile of pale blue glazed faience in the shape of a slightly convex rectangle, thicker in the center and tapering towards the edges. A smaller rectangle, raised in the back center of the tile is pierced longitudinally for attachment. The back of the tile also has white deposits indicating the presence of some form of gesso or similar binding agent. Faience tiles were manufactured in bulk and used as surface decoration, a famous example being Djoser’s Third Dynasty Step Pyramid at Saqqara which is decorated with an enormous number of faience tiles.

For related examples see: Gifts of the Nile, ed. Florence Dunn Friedman, Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design 1998, Plates 14 - 19, pg. 32 

Medium: Faience

Dimensions: Length: 2 1/8 inches (5.4 cm), Width: 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm)

Condition: Expected minor losses to the edges that do not detract, loss to the back where originally attached. Otherwise intact and in very good condition overall. Presented on a museum quality custom mount.

Provenance: Private Dutch collection, assembled during 1970s - 1980s, thereafter with Parthenon Gallery Ltd, London in 2009.