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

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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 cen ter 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 3/8 inches (6 cm), Width: 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) Condition: Small chip to the left side otherwise, intact and in very good condition overall. Provenance: Private English collection acquired prior to 1998, thereafter private Ohio collection, and then by descent. Show more