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Tile with persea fruit and leaves

New Kingdom, Amarna Period
ca. 1347–1330 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 122
Among the faience figural tiles found in the area of the Great Palace, the ceremonial palace, was this one depicting yellow persea fruit and its leaves. Many other tiles are known depicting birds, flowers, and fish, among other subjects. The clear fine colors of the plants created in glaze would have mimicked plentiful gardens and marshes, frequent themes also in relief and wall paintings (see 30.4.136) created for royal surroundings.

Elaborate decoration of columns and relief with inlaid materials is well-attested from Amarna, and indeed has a long tradition in Egypt. Faience tiles like this one, with an originally semi-round contour, may have been inlaid into stone wall reliefs. There are Amarna architectural reliefs that could accept the tiles, but no tiles have actually been found still attached.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Tile with persea fruit and leaves
  • Period: New Kingdom, Amarna Period
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Reign: reign of Akhenaten
  • Date: ca. 1347–1330 BCE
  • Geography: From Egypt, Middle Egypt, Amarna (Akhetaten), Royal Palace of Akhenaten, Petrie excavations, 1891–92
  • Medium: Polychrome faience
  • Dimensions: H. 6.5 × W. 5.5 cm (2 9/16 × 2 3/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926
  • Object Number: 26.7.942
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

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Tile from marsh scene, Polychrome faience
Tile from marsh scene
ca. 1347–1330 BCE
Tile fragment, Blue faience
Tile fragment
ca. 1981–1640 B.C.
Floral collar from Tutankhamun's Embalming Cache, Papyrus, olive leaves, persea leaves, nightshade berries, celery (?), faience, linen dyed red
Floral collar from Tutankhamun's Embalming Cache
ca. 1328–1318 BCE
Tile, marsh scene, Polychrome faience
Tile, marsh scene
ca. 1347–1330 BCE
Tile fragment, Blue faience
Tile fragment
ca. 1981–1640 B.C.

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