Explore

Egyptian model of a house

A bigger picture

Furniture was rare and expensive in Egypt because wood was a scarce resource. Palm logs were suitable for building, but not for carpentry, and Egypt’s native trees, such as acacia and tamarisk, were small, slow-growing and knotty. Quality wood had to be imported - cedar from the Lebanon, ebony from Ethiopia. Egyptian carpenters became very skilled at using wood economically - if you look closely at a piece of Egyptian furniture, you can see that it is made up of many tiny pieces of wood, carefully fitted together. Egyptian furniture was strong and light at the same time. Pieces made for wealthy customers were often very intricate, decorated with pictures and patterns inlaid or painted on to the surface

Household furniture

48-bigpic-01

With chair, table, stool and wine jar.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/w/wooden_stool.aspx

Wooden three-legged stool

48-bigpic-02 See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=119073&partId=1&searchText=wooden+three+stool&images=true&page=1

Inlaid stool

48-bigpic-03

Inlaid stool with ebony and ivory.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=116515&partId=1&searchText=inlaid+stool&images=true&page=1

Bedroom furniture

48-bigpic-04

Bed, headrest, cosmetic box, jar stand and linen sheet.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/g/group_of_bedroom_furniture.aspx

Wooden folding headrest

48-bigpic-05 See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/folding-wooden-headrest/GAFzJdSoEXnEeA

Wooden lamp stand

48-bigpic-06 See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/wooden-papyrus-shaped-lamp-stand/dQGVuSAKME2qEQ

Pottery oil lamp

48-bigpic-07 See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3335897&partId=1&searchText=pottery+lamp&images=true&place=42209&page=1
Next section: Teaching ideas
48_banner

Egyptian model of a house