Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna Figurines
All of the C-Group figurines in Vienna were excavated from Cemetery C at Toshka by Hermann Junker. The specific find-spot data is unknown for most of these pieces.
Headless Figurine (Inv. No. 7326)
Description:
This large figurine (14.9 x 4.5 x 3.9 cm) can be snugly gripped at the torso with one adult hand but should be held in both hands for more secure movement or manipulation. The elongated neck was apparently formed to accommodate a separately manufactured head. The figurine stands upright on enlarged feet and leans slightly forward at the hips. This piece can stand unaided on a level surface.
Location:
Found in Toshka, Cemetery C. No other information is available about the find-spot.
Bibliography:
Junker (1926): 75, Pl. 11.55 and 56, Pl. 24.413
Keimer (1948): 36-37, fig. 32
Hofmann (1977): 91, fig. 9
Morris (2011): 80, footnote 61
Headless Upper Body of Figurine (Inv. No. 7325)
Description:
This small figurine fragment (5.14 x 2.72 x 1.18 cm) lies comfortably across the palm of an adult human hand but, if complete, could have been held using one hand and manipulated easily by the thumb and fingertips. The elongated, tapering neck indicates that the piece was modeled to attach to a separately made head. The original pose is impossible to discern from the remaining fragment. The excavator believed that this is the upper half of F-14, as they were both excavated from the same grave. The pieces, however, do not seem to share similar proportions and might not have been from the same piece.
Location:
Found in Grave X at Toshka, Cemetery C
Bibliography:
Junker (1926): 75, Pl. 11: 55-56; Pl. 24: 412
Lower body of Clay Figurine (Inv. No. 7324)
Description:
This large figurine fragment (L: 7.1 x W: 3.5 x D: 4.5 cm) feels hefty and fills the palm of an adult human hand. If complete with its original upper body, it could have been held and manipulated in the grip of one hand. The pose is ambiguous and the piece might have been understood as seated and leaning back or standing and leaning slightly forward. It cannot maintain either position unaided on a level surface.
Location:
Found in Grave 201 at Toshka, cemetery C
Bibliography:
Junker (1926): 75, 88 (No. C 201), Pl. 11.55, Pl. 24.414
Keimer (1948): 36-37, fig. 33
Lower Body of Figurine (Inv. No. 7325)
Description:
This small figurine fragment (H: 3.0 x W: 3.0 x D: 4.68 cm) fits lightly into the palm of an adult human hand. If complete with its original upper body, it could have easily been held in one hand and manipulated with the thumb and fingertips. The position of the hips suggests that the piece was originally modeled in a seated pose. In its current condition the figurine can maintain balance in a seated position on a level surface, but the addition of the upper body might have overbalanced it. The excavator believed that this is the lower half of E-8, as they were both excavated from the same grave. The pieces, however, do not seem to share similar proportions and might not have been from the same piece.
Location:
Found in Grave X at Toshka, Cemetery C, along with one figurine lower body and 1 upper body that might fit with this piece.
Bibliography:
Junker (1926): 75, Pl. 11.55-56, Pl. 24.412
Works Cited:
Junker, Hermann. Toschke. Bericht über die Grabungen der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien auf dem Friedhof von Toschke (Nubien) im Winter 1911/12. Wein and Leipzig: Hölder-Pichler-Tempsky, 1926.
Keimer, Louis. Remarques sur le Tatouage dans L’Égypte Ancienne. Cairo: L’ Institut Francais d’Archéologie Orientale, 1948.
Hofmann, Inge. “Die Grosse Göttin des Ostmittelmeerraumes im Meroitischen Reich.” Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 5 (1977): 79-121.
Morris, Ellen F. “Paddle Dolls and Performance.” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 47 (2011): 71-103.