(EGYPT) Binder containing approximately 190 archeological ph

Sale 1959 - Lot 32

Unsold

Estimate: $ 6,000 - $ 9,000

(EGYPT)
Binder containing approximately 190 archeological photographs relating to expeditions to Armarna, Sawama, Abydos, and other pre-historic sites. Printing-out paper and silver prints, 6 1/4x4 1/4 inches (16x10.5 cm.) and the reverse, many with handwritten captions and/or numeric notations on verso. 1914-25

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Additional Details

From the library of Thomas Whittemore (1871-1950). In 1914 American archaeologists G. A. Wainwright and T. Whittemore of the Egypt Exploration Society dug up the cemeteries around the village of Sawama, near Akhmim, on the east bank of the Nile. In addition to the Sawama photographs, there are photographs made on successive expedition to Abydos, including 15 from an Ibis cemetery (with several depicting mummies); prints relating to the North Palace of Tel al Amarna; and those depicting burial chambers.

The photographs, which were apparently made by Whittemore, are rather marvelous artifacts in and of themselves. Pictures in the tombs show ghost-like turbanned workers' limbs as they reveal remains of skeletons and mummified figures, while other photographs represent carefully composed still lifes featuring hieroglyphic steles, vessels, jewelry, female statuary, and other signs of this civilization. Finally there are photographs that reflect a distinctly post-modernist style wherein areas are alphabetically demarcated "a," "b," "c," etc. which, according to the caption on verso, "shows variation in floor level of houses."

A detailed inventory, including the Egypt Exploration Society Archive number, the site, season, date, and caption is available. Several of the photographs are, purportedly, unpublished views.