Day 6 - Model with garden and pavilion



















January 10, 2018 
This wonderful gallery (105) contains the famous wooden models from the tomb of Meketre, who was steward to the king. Of the 24 models, 13 came to the Met, and the rest went to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The models are carved of sycamore wood and are unbelievably well-preserved; most of the painted wood carvings  and in many cases the original linen garments in which the figures were clothed are original. And they are 4000 years old!

The models were meant to ensure that Meketre would have all the appurtenances of the good life in death as well. Six models are of boats, with large crews of oarsmen; one is a sporting boat, from which men could hunt birds and spear fish (at least I take this to be the purpose of the long spear). There are also interior spaces for provisioning Meketre's household: a room for fattening cattle and another for slaughtering them, a granary, a brewery, and so on. The spaces are populated by lively, active wooden figures.

But the model I respond to is a garden in front of a pavilion. There are no human figures, just two parallel rows,  each comprising three small but elaborately carved trees, olive green in color, that  lead up to the pavilion, and a seventh tree that faces the structure. Between the two rows of trees is a rectangular, deep pool. At first I think it's a reflecting pool, but it's too deep for that.  The mostly facetious thought occurs to me -- does it represent a swimming pool?  (Did the ancient Egyptians swim recreationally?)  And I wonder, when the model was first placed in the tomb, was it filled with water?   The pavilion has two rows  of striped, flat-topped  columns that support a flat roof. The stripes are horizontal in the lower part of the column but vertical toward the top and are painted green and white; the green is slightly different from, but harmonizes with, the green of the trees. All this in a box that is approximately 3 feet long, a foot and a half wide, and 15 inches high.

What appeals to me so much about the scene is the feeling of utter tranquility it conveys, especially in contrast to the other models, which are hubs of activity. I imagine that the artisans who carved these models also felt the need for a place of calm and respite in the midst of so much else going on.

Comments

  1. Jennie TonicFebruary 27, 2018 at 5:27 PM

    I love this. I am going to start making models for my tomb. Maybe it will show me how I should be living before it's too late.

    ReplyDelete

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