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| Ornate Vessels
Finding ornate metal vessels has always been a rare event for archaeologists most likely due to the habit of melting them down after their useful, functional life. However, several hordes of `plate' have been discovered in Egypt over the years. Mostly these were found in temple precincts in the delta region. One of the first reported by Emil Brugsch (1871) was the so-called treasure of Tell Timai (the ancient Greek Thmuis) consisting of five silver vessels of the early 3rd century BC. [Cairo: CG 3581-85/53267, 53274-7; See N. Reeves, `Ancient Egypt', p. 125.]
Ornate Vessels from the Tomb of Sebekhotep
In the upper left we see a crater in the form of a lotus blossom with a low stand, gazelle heads as handles and duck heads decorating the upper border. Inside stands a second vessel of the same make including rosettes at the top. The ducks seem to be swimming inside and only their long necks show. - On the right side we see a similar crater with a scales decorated stand. Its wide cup is made in the form of a flower blossom topped by a spiral band and a neck decorated with vertical lines topped like the vessel to the left.
Below left we see a similar crater with standing ducks in a thicket of lotus flowers as if ready to fly away. - To the right we see a tall amphora with a spherical body, scaled neck and stand, handles in the form of a double spiral and a lid in the shape of a reclined antelope. [W. Wreszinsky, `Atlas', Tafel 223.]
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