(From museum website) "Chairs and beds belonging to the elite sometimes stood on legs that emulated the lower limbs of lions or bulls. The example seen here is modeled after the hind leg of a bull." |
Similar ivory bull legs were also found at Heirakonpolis (aka Nekhen). "Nos. 6,7,8 are bulls' legs from furniture, closely like those found, under the next reign, in the tomb of Mena." From _Hierakonpolis_, Part 1, by J. E. Quibell, B.A., With Notes by W. M. F. P. I found many fragments of ivory bulls' legs illustrated in Petrie's _Royal Tombs of the First Dynasty, part II_. There were two in perfect shape, however Petrie identifies them as being from the tomb of Zer-ta:
Later, after I'd visited the Boston MFA, I recognized the leg numbered "8" in Petrie's drawing:
Djer's furniture leg
These legs are turning up everywhere! The museum at Rhode Island School of Deaign has one too:
|