Egyptian Celebrant Figure, "Bird Woman"

Details

The "bird woman" is a stunning and mysterious figure from the Naqada IIa, an archaeological culture of Chalcolithic Predynastic Egypt, dating back to approximately ca. 3650 BCE.

The figure raises her arms and appears to be wearing a long white skirt.  The silhouette of her face has a beak-like curve, which has given her the nickname "bird woman." But this is about as much as we truly know about this elegant figure whose purpose and meaning are shrouded in mystery.

Figures with upraised arms have been depicted during this same period on decorative vessels and occasionally in rock art.  Interpretations of the raised arms include dancing, ritual greeting, or, less likely, mourning.  Therefore, the term "celebrant" has been used to refer to the posture.

The long white skirt worn is notable as most figures from this period were depicted without clothing, suggesting that the clothing marked some distinction for the wearer.  Researchers suggest that some of these figures may have had hair stuck to the tops of their heads due to a dark patch on the crown of some figures.

Figures of this style are rare, with only six examples of "bird women" found from a known archaeological context.  Archaeologists found these six figures in two graves at el-Ma'mariya, and since then, they have been the subject of much discussion about what or whom they represent.

There is a view that these figures represent an early example of an Egyptian deity with both human and animal attributes; however, as stated in Dawn of Egyptian Art by Diana Craig Patch, "for the ancient Egyptians, the shape did not depict a bird, and in fact, the beak-like curve is an abbreviated convention that focuses attention on the nose and chin, features that are almost always present on figures." This figure reinforces the idea that for the Predynastic Egyptians, the nose, a source of breath and thus a source of life, required emphasis.

Despite our inability to agree on who she was or what significance this figure held, the fact that this figure is over 5,000 years old and still captivates and intrigues scholars and enthusiasts alike makes her a truly remarkable and fascinating piece of history.

The hand-forged stands are being made by the talented Tom at heritageblades.co.uk .  Each one is an artwork of its own and made using traditional forging techniques*. 

 *Please be aware that we rely on getting the stands from a third party and, therefore, cannot guarantee a specific delivery time. Still, we will work closely with this trusted supplier to get your stand in time for Christmas.   

Materials

Terracotta and white gypsum.

Dimensions

Approx 255 mm tall

Production

This replica has been hand-made in Northumberland by Potted History, based on an original artefact.  It has been fired to a temperature between 800 & 1000 Centigrade to emulate the same techniques the original potters would have employed.  This process often results in surface colour and texture variation, as is common with the original artefacts.  

Postage

All items are sent using a second-class postal service.  If you wish to have an item sent first class, please get in touch with us for a quote.  Many Thanks