This wooden doll has unfortunately lost its head. It is possible that such dolls were regarded as fertility figures rather than playthings. Note the tattoo marks on the body.

Wooden paddle figure with head missing. Wellcome label 52536 is associated with this object. Probably a fertility doll. Note tattoo marks on the body. Paddle dolls usually originate from Upper Egypt (Hayes 1953 p220) and have faces and hair of mud. The ones from the Metropolitan Museum date to the second half of the eleventh Dynasty and are from tombs in the neighbourhood of Deir el Bahari. Bourriau (1988 page 126-127) states these are common in Theban cemeteries of the 11th Dynasty but at least two were found in tombs at Beni Hasan and one at Rifeh but in early deposits. Another was found beneath the Ramesseum at Thebes dating to the 13th Dynasty. Purchased at auction by Wellcome in 1919.

Collection

Egypt Centre, University of Swansea

Inventory Number

3543617

Title

This wooden doll has unfortunately lost its head. It is possible that such dolls were regarded as fertility figures rather than playthings. Note the tattoo marks on the body.

Object Type

Image

Measurements

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