Figurines from the Leipzig Museum
Clay Figurine (Inv. No. 4403)
Description:
This medium-sized figurine (H: 8 x L: 12.5 x W: 4.9 x D: 3.4 cm) can rest comfortably in an adult hand and can be held and manipulated using the thumb and two fingers. The head was modeled and fired separately from the body and then attached by inserting the long neck into a cavity prepared at the base of the head. The pose is ambiguous such that the figure might be seated and leaning back or standing and leaning forward. It can neither stand nor sit unaided on a flat surface.
Location:
Found in Grave 390 of Aniba Cemetery N
This figurine was found along with 1 other figurine in the sand over the intact skeleton of a girl, head E, who wore 1 ivory/bone bangle on left wrist and 2 on right wrist. Pieces of 3 hair clips were at the head and 1 cosmetic shell was in front of the breast.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 122 (No. 16), 150 (N 390), Pl. 72.16
Ägyptisches Museum (1963): 18
Bietak (1968): Pl. 13 (II/b/21)
Röhsska konstslöjdmuseet (1973); 130 (No. 514)
Amos Andersonin taidemuseo and Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (1973): 98 (No. 70)
Staatliche Museen, Berlin and Ateneumin Taidemuseo, Helsinki (1973): 98 (No. 70)
Hofmann (1977): 90 (Footnote 56), fig. 7
Wenig II (1978): 126 (No. 16)
Teske (1979): 29 (No. 16)
Scholz (1986): 18, fig. 19
Krauspe (1987): No. 51/11
Krauspe (1997): 103-104 (No. 183), Pl. 120.1-4
Petacchi (2012): 268, fig. 3.B
Headless Clay Figurine (Inv. No. 4401)
Description:
This small, complete but headless figurine (H: 5.6 x W: 3.6 x D: 2.5 x L: 6.5 cm) can be comfortably held in the cupped palm of an average-sized adult hand and is easily manipulated using the thumb and fingertips. The technology of the head cannot be identified due to the break at the neck. It was modeled in a seated position, although it cannot maintain this pose on a flat surface unaided.
Location:
Found in Grave 108 at Aniba Cemetery N
This figurine was found E of the superstructure of the grave, along with 1 other fragmentary female figurines and 1 red-polished black-topped bowl (upside down), 1 black polished incised bowl (upside down), and 1 clay pot. An intact skeleton wearing a necklace of silver beads was in the burial shaft, but the sex was not noted.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 132
Krauspe (1997): 104-105 (No. 186), Pl. 123.1-4
Clay Figurine representing Human Male (Inv. No. 4407)
Description:
This medium-sized figurine (H: 9.4 x W: 4.4 x D: 3.3 x L: 10.3 cm) can be easily grasped in an adult hand and manipulated using the thumb and fingers. The head technology is impossible to identify due to the break at the neck. It was modeled with applied male sexual organs. Although the pose is somewhat ambiguous, it was most likely understood as standing and leaning forward slightly.
Location:
Found in sand, S of Grave 214 at Aniba Cemetery N
This figurine was found along with at least 4 livestock figurines of various sexes and ages, in an alleyway, to the south of the superstructure.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 122 (No. 21), 140, Pl. 72.21.A and B
Williams (1983): 97 (footnote 4)
Gleisberg (1989): 586 (No. V/5/52)
Krauspe (1997): 101 (No. 178), Pl. 115.1-4
Hafsaas (2006): 102
Petacchi (2012): 268, fig. 3.B
Headless Clay Figurine (Inv. No. 4406)
Description:
This medium-sized, crudely formed figurine (H: 10.9 x W: 3.9 x D: 2.1 x L: 13.7 cm) can be comfortably gripped in an adult human hand. It can be held and manipulated using the thumb and fingers. The head technology is impossible to identify due to the break at the neck. The pose is ambiguous and it might have been understood as seated and leaning back or standing and leaning forward. It can neither stand nor sit unaided on a flat surface.
Location:
Found discarded in the sand by Grave 249 at Aniba Cemetery N
This figurine was discarded beside an empty grave and 2 more female figures were found together nearby.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 121 (No. 11), 142, Pl. 72.11
Hofmann (1977): 90 (footnote 55)
Krauspe (1997): 101-102, Pl. 116.1-4
Petacchi (2012): 268, fig. 3.B
Headless Figurine (Inv. No. 4399)
Description:
This medium-sized figurine (H: 6.2 x W: 2.3 x D:1.9 cm) can rest across the palm of an adult hand and is easily manipulated using the thumb and fingertips. The head technology is impossible to identify due to the break at the neck. The lower body was modeled as a column and the base spreads out to give support to the figure, which was formed in a standing pose.
Location:
Found between Graves 249 and 262 at Aniba Cemetery N
This figurine was found together with a second figurine, apparently discarded in the sand near an empty grave.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 122 (No. 19), 142, Pl. 72.19
Hofmann (1977): 90 (footnote 63)
Krauspe (1997): 105, Pl. 124.1-4
Gratien (2009): 327
Petacchi (2012): 268, fig 3.B
Lower Body of Figurine (Inv. No. 4400)
Description:
This medium-sized figurine (H: 7.3 x W: 2.5 x D: 2 cm) can securely rest across the palm of an adult hand and is easily held and manipulated using the thumb and two fingers. The head technology is impossible to identify due to the break at the neck. The lower body was modeled as a column and the base spreads out to give support to the figure, which was formed in a standing pose.
Location:
Found between Graves 249 and 262 at Aniba Cemetery N
This figurine was found together with a second figurine, apparently discarded in the sand near an empty grave.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 122 (No. 20), 142, Pl. 71.20.A and B
Hofmann: 90 (footnote 63)
Krauspe (1997): 105, Pl. 125.1-4
Gratien (2009): 327
Petacchi (2012): 268, fig. 3.B
Headless Figurine (Inv. No. 4402)
Description:
This medium-sized figurine (H: 11.7 x W: 5.4 x D: 4.0 x L: 13.5 cm) can be comfortably gripped in an adult human hand and can be manipulated and moved using the thumb and two or three fingers. The head technology is impossible to identify due to the break at the neck. The pose is somewhat ambiguous but likely was understood as standing and leaning slightly forward, although it cannot maintain a standing or a sitting position unaided on a flat surface.
Location:
Found in Grave 390 of Aniba Cemetery N
This figurine was found along with 1 other figurine in the sand over the intact skeleton of a girl, head E, who wore 1 ivory/bone bangle on left wrist and 2 on right wrist. Pieces of 3 hair clips were at the head and 1 cosmetic shell was in front of the breast.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 122 (No. 15), 150, Pl. 72.15
Hofmann (1977): 90 (footnote), fig. 56
Gleisberg (1989): 585-596 (No. V/5/50), 586
Krauspe (1997): 103 (No. 182), Pl. 119.1-4
Hafsaas (2006): 101-103, Color Plate 5.A
Petacchi (2012): 268, fig. 3.B
Headless Figurine (Inv. No. 4405)
Description:
This medium-sized figurine sits comfortably across the palm of an adult human hand and can be manipulated using the thumb and two or three fingertips. The head technology is impossible to identify due to the broken neck tip. The pose is likely intended to represent a seated figure, with the upper body leaning back. The piece, however, cannot sit unaided on a flat surface.
Location:
Found in settlement site at Aniba, not with other figurines but exact location unknown.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 121 (No. 10), Pl. 72.10
Steindorff (1937): 30
Ägyptisches Museum, et al (1963): 18
Hofmann (1977): 90, fig. 8
Krauspe (1997): 102 (No. 180), Pl. 117.1-4
Wildung (1997): 55, 56 (No. 45)
Bianchi (2004): 58
Hafsaas (2006): 101-103, Color Plate 5.B
Petacchi (2012): 268, fig. 3.B
Headless Figurine (Inv. No. 4404)
Description:
This large figurine (H: 11.1 x W: 2.7 x D: 2.3 x L: 13.1 cm) can be comfortably gripped in an adult hand and manipulated using the thumb and two or three fingers. Although the very tip of the neck is broken off, the length and shape indicate that the piece was modeled to accommodate a separately made head. The pose is ambiguous but the obtuse angle of the legs and torso make the figure more likely to have been understood as standing and leaning forward than sitting and leaning back. The piece can neither stand nor sit unaided on a flat surface.
Location:
Found in sand at Aniba Cemetery N
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 122 (No. 18), Pl. 72.18
Hofmann (1977): 90 (footnote 56)
Krauspe (1997): 103 (N0. 181), Pl. 118.1-4
Petacchi (2012): 268, fig. 3.B
Headless Figurine (Inv. No. 4410)
Description:
This medium-sized figurine (H: 8.0 x W: 2.4 x D: 2.5 x L: 9.5 cm) can rest across the palm of an average adult hand and is easily manipulated with the thumb and two fingers. The body is oddly shaped and crudely modeled. The nature of the head technology is impossible to identify due to the damaged neck. The pose is ambiguous and might have been understood as seated and leaning back or standing and leaning forward.
Location:
Found in Grave 108 at Aniba Cemetery N
This figurine was found E of the superstructure of the grave, along with 1 other fragmentary female figurines and 1 red-polished black-topped bowl (upside down), 1 black polished incised bowl (upside down), and 1 clay pot. An intact skeleton wearing a necklace of silver beads was in the burial shaft, but the sex was not noted.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 132
Krauspe (1997): 104 (No. 184), Pl. 121.1-4
Upper Portion of Clay Figurine Head (Inv. No. 8279)
Description:
This hair of this head fragment was painted black. There are no incised lines to mark the hairline.
Location:
Find-spot unknown, records lost during WWII
Bibliography:
Unpublished
Left Side of Head (Inv. No. 4397)
Description:
This head fragment has a cavity at the base for attachment to a clay body or other support. There are dark firemarks on the hair at the left side and on the back that might have been intentional.
Location:
Found in sand at Aniba Cemetery N, precise find-spot unknown
Bibliography:
Krauspe (1997): 107 (No. 193), Pl. 128.3-4
Upper part of figurine head (Inv. No. 7686)
Description:
This partial head survives in a very fragmentary state.
Location:
Find-spot unknown, records lost during WWII
Bibliography:
Unpublished
Clay Head of Figurine (Inv. No. 4395)
Description:
This head has a cavity in the base for attachment to a clay body or other form of supporting structure. Dark firing marks occur in places, mostly on the hair and possibly intentionally created to mimic dark hair.
Location:
Found N of superstructure of Grave 133, Aniba Cemetery N
Figurine head was found along with 1 other figurine head, N of this plundered grave. Also with the heads were blue-green and carnelian beads.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 121-122 (No. 13), 134, Pl. 72.13
Hofmann (1977): 90 (footnote 60)
Wenig 1 (1978): Fig. 29; 2 (1978): 128 (No. 17)
O’Connor (1978): 53, Fig. 29
Teske (1979): 29 (No. 17), back cover
Säve-Söderbergh (1980): 23
Krauspe (1987): No. 51/12
Krasupe (1997): 107 (No. 192), Pl. 127.4, Pl. 128.1-2
Petacchi (2012): 268, fig. 3.B
Clay Figurine Head (Inv. No. 4396)
Description:
This head has a cavity in the base for mounting on a clay body or other supporting structure. The lower part of the face and the back of the head have dark firemarks.
Location:
Found N of superstructure of Grave 133, Aniba Cemetery N
Figurine head was found along with 1 other figurine head, N of this plundered grave. Also with the heads were blue-green and carnelian beads.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 121 (No. 12), 134, Pl. 72.12.a and b
Ägyptisches Museum, et al (1963): 19
Hofmann (1977): 90 (footnote 60)
Wenig 1 (1978): Fig. 29; 2 (1978): 125 (No. 14)
Teske (1979): 29 (No. 14)
Gleisberg (1989): 585-586 (No. V/5/51), 586
Krasupe (1997): 106 (No. 191), Pl. 127.1-3
Petacchi (2012): 268, fig. 3.B
Torso Fragment of Figurine (Inv. No. 7685)
Description:
This large figurine torso fragment (6.5 x 5.0 x 1.8 cm) fills the palm of an adult human hand but, if complete, could have been held using one or both hands and manipulated in the grip of one hand. The elongated, tapering neck, although broken off at the tip, suggests that the piece was likely modeled to attach to a separately made head. The original pose and form of the lower body are impossible to deduce due to the break at the waist.
Location:
Find-spot unknown, records lost during WWII
Bibliography:
Krauspe (1997): 105-106 (N0. 189), Pl. 126.1-2
Lower Body Fragment of Figurine (Inv. No. 4413)
Description:
This large figurine fragment (5.2 x 3.4 x 5.5 cm) heftily fills the palm of an adult human hand. If complete with its original upper body and legs, the figurine might have required two hands to hold it securely and manipulate it. The original pose was ambiguous and might have been understood as seated and leaning back or standing and leaning slightly forward.
Location:
Found in Grave 9 of Aniba Cemetery N.
The figurine fragment was found in the E section of the connected chapel, along with 3 red-polished black-topped bowls and 1 clay jar. The grave was empty.
Bibliography:
Steindorff (1935): 126
Krauspe (1997): 106 (No. 190), Pl. 126.3-4
Works Cited:
Steindorff, Georg. Aniba I. Glückstadt and Hamburg: J. J. Augustin, 1935.
Ägyptisches Museum, Institut für Ägyptologie der Humboldt-Universität Berlin, UNESCO. Nubien und Sudan im Altertum. Führer durch die Sonderausstellung des Berliner Ägyptischen Museums. Berlin: Staatliche Museen, 1963.
Amos Andersonin taidemuseo and Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. Ikuinen Egypti Aegyptus Aeterna [Exhibition of objects from the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin DDR] 5.10 – 18.11.1973. Helsinki. Berlin: The Museum, 1973.
Bianchi, Robert Steven. Daily Life of the Nubians. Westport, Connecticut and London: Greenwood Press, 2004.
Bietak, Manfred. Studien zur Chronologie der Nubischen C-Gruppe: Ein Beitrag zur Frühgeschichte unternubiens zwischen 2200 und 1550 vor Chr. Vienna: Hermann Böhlaus Nachf, 1968.
Gleisberg, Dieter. Merkur & die Musen: Schätze der Weltkultur aus Leipzig: eine Ausstellung aus der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik im Künstlerhaus Wien, 21.9.1989-18.2.1990. Vienna: Das Künstlerhaus, 1989.
Gratien, B. “Quelques nouveaux portraits de Kerma,” in Elkab and Beyond: Studies in Honor of Luc Limme, edited by W. Claes, H. de Meulenaere, and S. Hendrickx, 321-332. Leuven: Peeters, 2009.
Hafsaas, Henriette. Cattle Pastoralists in a Multicultural Setting: The C-Group People in Lower Nubia. Ramallah, Palestine: Birzeit University; Bergen, Norway: Bergen University, 2006.
Hofmann, Inge. “Die Grosse Göttin des Ostmittelmeerraumes im Meroitischen Reich.” Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 5 (1977): 79-121.
Krauspe, Renate. Ägyptisches Museum der Karl-Marx-Universität Leipzig. Führer durch die Ausstellung. Leipzig: Universität, 1987.
_______. Katalog Ågyptischer Sammlungen in Leipzig, Vol 1, Statuen und Statuetten. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern, 1997.
Petacchi, Simone. “Steatopygia in Ancient Egyptian and Nubian Art. An Ethnical Countermark or a Primitive Revival? The Case of Kushite Iconography and Style,” in Achievements and Problems of Modern Egyptology: Proceesdings of the International Conference Held in Moscow on September 29-October 2, 2009, edited by Galina A. Belova, 265-286. Moscow: Russian Academy of Sciences, 2012.
Röhsska konstslöjdmuseet (Göteborg, Sweden) Gudar och människor vid Nilen: uställning 18 mars – 20 kaj 1973. Göteborg: Röhsska konstslöjdmuseet, 1973.
Säve-Söderbergh, Torgny. “La Nubie Redécouverte: De la Préhistoire aux Temps Pharaoniques.” UNESCO Courrier 33 (Feb.-Mar. 1980): 20-24.
Scholz, Piotr. “Kusch, Meroë, Nubien.” Antike Welt 17 (1986): 3-77.
Staatliche Museen, Berlin and Ateneumin Taidemuseo, Helsinki Det Eviga Egypten. Aegyptus Aeterna: Konstmuseet I Ateneum Helsingfors: Staatliche museen zu Berlin DDR 5.10 – 18.11.1973. Helsinki, 1973.
Teske, J. Nubië aan de Nijl: Voorportaal van Afrika. The Hague: Gemeentemuseum, 1979.
Wenig, Steffen. Africa in Antiquity: The Arts of Ancient Nubia and the Sudan, II. (The Catalogue). New York: The Brooklyn Museum, 1978.
Wildung, Dietrich. Sudan: Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile. Paris and New York: Flammarion, 1997.
Williams, Bruce, B. C-Group, Pan Grave, and Kerma Remains at Adindan Cemeteries T, K, U, and J. Chicago: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 1983.