Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Figures
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 Geography and Geology
- 2 Brief Outline of Egyptian History
- 3 Study of the Material World of Ancient Egypt
- 4 Dress and Personal Adornment
- 5 Housing and Furniture
- 6 Food and Drink
- 7 Hygiene and Medicine
- 8 Containers of Clay and Stone
- 9 Tools and Weapons
- 10 Basketry, Rope, Matting
- 11 Faience and Glass
- 12 Transportation
- 13 Sport and Games
- 14 Music and Dance
- 15 Weapons and Armor
- 16 Conclusions
- Sources of Chapter Heading Quotations
- Bibliography
- Index
10 - Basketry, Rope, Matting
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Figures
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 Geography and Geology
- 2 Brief Outline of Egyptian History
- 3 Study of the Material World of Ancient Egypt
- 4 Dress and Personal Adornment
- 5 Housing and Furniture
- 6 Food and Drink
- 7 Hygiene and Medicine
- 8 Containers of Clay and Stone
- 9 Tools and Weapons
- 10 Basketry, Rope, Matting
- 11 Faience and Glass
- 12 Transportation
- 13 Sport and Games
- 14 Music and Dance
- 15 Weapons and Armor
- 16 Conclusions
- Sources of Chapter Heading Quotations
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
As for the grain basket which you made, it is of coarse coiling....
Have another made which is of fine material.
From a letter
Basketry
Examples of basketry have been discovered from the Neolithic Period, including fragments of rush matting and the basket linings of grain storage bins. These prove that the processes of employing plant fibers to produce useful objects date back to the very beginnings of settlement on the banks of the Nile. There is also ample proof to show that baskets continued to be used throughout Egyptian history. The bulk of the evidence comes from the material that has been preserved in the dry atmosphere of tombs as a part of the religious beliefs that the spirit of the deceased should be provided for with material comforts in the next life. There are also numerous depictions of baskets in tomb paintings as they were used in agricultural activity and as containers for the offerings for the spirit of the deceased.
One of the most important uses of basketry and baskets in ancient Egypt was the safe storage of household and personal objects. Since the typical furnishings did not include wooden units that were particularly designed for storage (other than boxes), baskets served an important purpose for almost all classes. Unfortunately the physical conditions of preservation since antiquity were not always ideal. Basketry made from plant parts and fibers cannot withstand the ravages of insects or any exposure to humidity. As a consequence we know less about the use of baskets and other objects made with basketry techniques than objects made of other materials.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Material World of Ancient Egypt , pp. 146 - 153Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2013