Decorated ostrich egg

Decorated ostrich eggs date mainly from the second millennium BC, and the majority are decorated with dots and white lines, or black zig-zag lines; eggs bearing incised lines, spirals and even animal outlines are much rarer. The egg in Brussels is decorated with 37 engraved spirals, running from the base to the top of the shell. The purpose of this type of object is unknown.

Present location	KMKG - MRAH [07/003] BRUSSELS
Inventory number	E.2338
Dating	MIDDLE KINGDOM (not before); NEW KINGDOM
Archaeological Site	UNKNOWN
Category	OSTRICH EGG
Material	SHELL (OSTRICH EGG)
Technique	ENGRAVED
Height	14 cm
Width	11 cm

Bibliography

• S. Hendrickx, in T. Phillips, Africa. The Art of a Continent (Exposition Londres 1995), Munich-New York-Londres 1995, 78 n° 1.37

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