Plaque depicting a goose

Object Details

• Label

  Thin, rectangular plaques made of limestone, carved on one or both sides with figures in low relief, have often been interpreted as sculptors' models. They would have furnished patterns for artists to imitate, thus ensuring that the images or hieroglyphs carved on a tomb or temple wall would appear uniform in style and consistent in details even when executed by artisans trained in different workshops.

  Some plaques, like this one, have raised borders incised at regular intervals. The markings were probably used to align a grid painted across the surface of the plaque. Artists could then outline the figure to be carved according to an established canon, or set of proportions, measured by means of the grid. This plaque preserves traces of the black outline drawing that guided the sculptor in carving the figure. The goose stands on a base line one grid square high and five squares long.

  The quality of carving on these plaques varies considerably, suggesting that some may have served as trial pieces for artisans practicing their skills. Still others may have functioned instead as votive objects offered in a temple by worshipers, with the carved image depicting the deity to whom they were dedicated.

• Provenance

  To 1908

  Michel Casira, Cairo, to 1908 [1]

  From 1908 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Michel Casira, Cairo, in 1908 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Micellaneous List, S.I. 60, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt (January 28, 2023 to 2025)

  Charles Lang Freer and Egypt (June 13, 1998 to October 2, 2011)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Michel Casira (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Freer Gallery 20: A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Casira, Michel

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Saite Dynasty 26 (664 - 525 BCE), Goose, Ancient Egyptian Art, Stone

• Culture

  Egyptians

• Object Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Yes